Hello, everyone! UknownHero here and welcome back to Senran Persona! Sorry for the delayed chapter. A lot of…very worrying stuff happened in-between the last chapter and this chapter huh? I just hope everyone is staying safe out there. That's all I can really say.
Onto reviews! Now, I'm seeing a lot of people supporting the Homura Romance Path, so that worked…I think. I also see people supporting the harem route. Now, we still have Asuka, Yumi and Miyabi left to pursue, so stay tuned for their events. To hoodini5569: We're getting there. There's still a thousand pages in side we have to deal with. To ZonZus: You know, nanomachines could solve cancer, at least in the story…if Haruka was actually knowledgeable in that field. She deals with chemicals and drugs, not nanomachines. Haruka isn't an omni-displinary scientist. I should probably point that out in the story.
Anyways, that's it! Time to pass gas!
Load Game…Start!
Chapter 92: The Passing Time
(Fast Forward)
"Can we please hurry this up?" Sae suddenly spoke up, tapping her heel underneath the steel table. "We don't have all night." She then reminded.
"So impatient, Niijima-san." Akira sighed with a disappointed shake of his head. "I thought you said to not leave out any details." He then added.
"You are way too calm to be drugged." Sae deadpanned. "The important thing I want information on is what happened on August 21st. Do you mind explaining?" She then stated and questioned.
"Well...it requires a little context." Akira however stated.
"...Fine. You may continue." Sae eventually relented.
"Okay. Well..." Akira began, continuing his retelling.
(Rewind)
(8/6, Daytime)
(Shibuya, Diner)
Another day had gone by as the diner was filled with customers. However, two of them took more interest than anyone else in there.
"So, what exactly did you want to talk about Miyabi-chan?" Asuka innocently asked while taking a sip of her soda. "I mean, this is the first time the two of us are having a one on one chat." She then pointed out.
"Yeah, that's the thing." Miyabi responded, causing the Vice Leader to tilt her head in confusion. "This is our first time getting the chance to sit down and talk. After all, it's not every day you get to talk to the granddaughter of the legendary shinobi." She soon reminded.
"Please don't call me that all the time." Asuka sighed out her request. "It makes me sound like I only exist to continue his legacy." She then admitted.
"Ah, the pressures of fame and expectations." Miyabi responded with a nod of understanding.
"Oh, you understand me?" Asuka asked in a curious manner.
"Well, there is a certain amount of expectation required to be the daughter of an Evil Shinobi school's principal." Miyabi responded, getting a nod in response from the brunette. "But I at least look forward to upholding that legacy. I hear that you aren't so keen to do so." She then added.
"I mean, I can't exactly be Jii-chan." Asuka pointed out. "I don't want to be defined by the people who want me to be legendary, I want to be legendary on my own." She then explained.
"...Ok, that's understandable." Miyabi responded with a nod.
"Although, I don't think I can be legendary as a PT..." Asuka also pointed out.
"We do have targets on our backs, even if our enemy isn't aware of it." Miyabi mumbled.
"Yeah. And it's ironic. I was sent here to find the source of the breakdowns and shutdowns since it happened to Homu-neechan's former family." Asuka replied and revealed.
"...A shinobi family was affected?" Miyabi questioned with widened eyes.
The Vice Leader in turn nodded. "Yeah." Asuka responded. "I'm surprised there haven't been more deaths amongst shinobi."
"Asuka, that is more serious than you realize." Miyabi however stated in a more serious tone. "It's similar to a change of heart, right? Maybe it's because they don't have the info. Someone must have leaked it." She then guessed.
"I...I didn't think of that." Asuka soon admitted with widened eyes.
"And all these incidents...they'd need the resources to dig into people's personal lives. This Black Mask isn't spinning a roulette and choosing victims at random. They are all preplanned targets." Miyabi then stated. "The perfect assassination..." She then concluded in disgust.
"...Are they being paid to kill their target?" Asuka soon gasped.
The white haired woman in turn narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't put it past them. Hitmen are given a lot of money. And they aren't bogged down by shinobi codes and honor." Miyabi replied with a shrug. "Still, we can talk more about this later with the others. We have a more pressing issue to discuss." She soon stated
"More than a supernatural serial killer?" Asuka questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"...You took one of Hebijo's top students..." Miyabi eventually accused the other girl in a dead serious tone.
The brunette however puffed up her cheek to that accusation. "I didn't take Homu-neechan. It's called being her friend...who then later became my sister." Asuka countered as she frowned at the older girl. "Don't you have any friends Miyabi-chan?" She soon asked.
"...Yes." Miyabi replied. "Imu is my closest friend." She revealed.
"No one else?" Asuka pressed.
"Didn't find it all that necessary." Miyabi simply stated. "After that incident with that Yōma, I just threw myself into my training. If it wasn't for Imu, I would've become nothing but a mindless killing machine against the Yōma. She would pull me out of the abyss and show me the few joys in life I could experience. I was still filled with the need for revenge, but she was there to ensure that it didn't consume me." She then began to recall with a nostalgic smile on her face.
"Wow, she sounds like a really good friend." Asuka admitted with a smile of her own.
"Of course." Miyabi stated with a smile. "We'd do everything together. We'd cook together, clean together, and clean each other, especially all those nosebleeds she gets sometimes..." She then informed.
"Wait, what?" Asuka however got out in confusion. "Nosebleeds?" She then repeated.
"Yeah. I mean, I think it's a chronic thing." Miyabi assumed with a frown.
"Why does this sound familiar?" Asuka thought to herself before thinking back to her own friends at Hanzō Academy.
"She would get them in the bath, and when I got lazy and just wore an apron to cook food, and when I went into my father's sake cabinet one time and started dancing around...not my proudest moment."
"Wait a minute..." Asuka soon thought, remembering one of her early discussions with her sister.
"Oh, she's also really clingy. She'd often hold hands with me, pat my head whenever I sleep, rub my chest to comfort me..." Miyabi continued. "I also had weird dreams from my coma. I mean, I thought I heard her saying stuff like I love you and I want you to feel all my love inside and I don't want to finger you while you're unconscious so please wake up already. No idea where that was all coming from." She soon began recalling while scratching her head in confusion.
SHATTER!
Asuka's eyes soon widened in shock. "Oh boy, Miyabi-chan's friend is like Yagyū-chan..." She awkwardly thought in realization while blushing.
"I might be misremembering though." Miyabi then got out. "Oh, and I would hear her giggle sometimes whenever I come out of the shower and she doesn't join. There must be a joke that I'm not aware of." She then added.
"...Miyabi-chan, I know this might be random...but I need to ask you something..." Asuka suddenly started in a hesitant tone.
"Do you need money?" Miyabi assumed with a frown. "Because my answer is no." She then stated.
The Vice Leader however shook her head in response. "...Does Imu have a crush on you?" Asuka suddenly asked.
"...Huh?" Miyabi got out in confusion with a raised eyebrow.
"S-Sorry, it's just that the way you described her with how she acts reminds me of my friend Yagyū-chan from back home with how she treats my other friend, Hibari-chan." Asuka apologized and explained.
"...I don't get it." Miyabi soon confessed.
"Homu-neechan told me Yagyū-chan's in love with Hibari-chan." Asuka meekly revealed while poking her fingertips together with a pink blush on her face.
(Asakura, Hanzō Academy Dorms)
"ACHOO!" Yagyū roughly sneezed before groaning. She just had to be sick and bedridden today.
"ACHOO!" Hibari sneezed as well. She must've caught the same bug as her protector.
"ACHOO!" Katsuragi sneezed at the same time.
"How you three got sick is beyond me." Ikaruga sighed out.
"I'm not sick." Katsuragi got out. "I...I think I'm suffering withdrawal..." She then groaned. "The beautiful sight of breasts...they are fading from my- MMPH!" She soon began before having a spoon forced into her mouth.
"Enjoy your soup." Ikaruga deadpanned. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to-" She then started before...
POOF!
"Ack!" Yagyū coughed. "K-Kiriya-sensei!" She then struggled out, still feeling dizzy from her sickness.
"Whhyyy...?" Hibari whined out as she instinctively cuddled up to the white haired girl, who blushed even redder as a result.
"You can just enter the room normally!" Katsuragi groaned in annoyance.
"Oh, this amount of smoke inhalation is not good for my lungs." Ikaruga sighed.
(Shibuya, Diner)
"...I still don't see where you're going with this." Miyabi got out with a confused look on her face.
"Miyabi-chan, I think Imu-chan is in love with you." Asuka soon stated.
"...Tch!" Miyabi scoffed and rolled her eyes. "You have quite the overactive imagination, Vice Leader." She then stated.
"I-Imagination? What are you...?" Asuka questioned.
"No offense Asuka, but Imu is my best friend. I know her more than anyone else in the world, including myself. She would never fall in love with me." Miyabi insisted. "You are just reading into it too much." She then stated while waving it off.
"But...what if she is?" Asuka soon asked.
To that, the white haired woman opened her mouth to say something, only to pause and blink a couple of times after shutting her mouth before placing a hand on her chin in deep thought.
"Miyabi-chan?" Asuka called out in concern.
"Quiet, I'm thinking." Miyabi bluntly ordered before shaking her head. "...Ngh...no, still don't see it. Asuka, all you've heard are stories from me. You really don't know her as well as I do. Don't analyze such things. It's rude. I mean, for all you know, you could be wrong about Yagyū and Hibari too. What would they think if they found out about you talking behind their backs about their relationship?" She soon responded while shaking her head.
"O-Oh...uh..." Asuka was starting to blush in embarrassment.
"Asuka, love is very, very complicated to understand." Miyabi got out in a lecturing manner. "It isn't as simple as hanging out with each other and knowing every single thing about them. It has to require a spark to ignite that fire. And let me tell you, Imu isn't the type to ignite that." She then stated.
(Hebijo Academy)
"ACHOO!" Imu sneezed as she looked around her room...which was covered in posters filled with the white haired woman in various poses. "Is Miyabi talking about me?" She soon muttered before her eyes slowly widened and started to become giddy at the thought.
This could be a sign.
Now to spend the next 10 minutes working herself up.
(Shibuya, Diner)
"Besides...I can say the same thing about you and Homura." Miyabi then bluntly stated.
"W-What!?" Asuka exclaimed. "No...No, not you too!" She then got out in disbelief.
"Oh, I can see it! The both of you walking hand-in-hand along the beach wearing matching sundresses during sunset. You'd stare into each other's eyes before taki-"
"Please stop!" Asuka begged.
Miyabi smirked as she rubbed her nose. "Not so fun when it's you being gossiped about, huh." She then chuckled.
The Vice Leader in turn pouted in response. "W-We're sisters, dammit! Like, full stepsisters!" Asuka called out before pausing. "...Wait, did we ever tell you that?" She soon asked.
"Thin walls." Miyabi bluntly and simply explained. "And that hasn't stopped people before." She then added.
"Ew..." Asuka got out in disgust and shivered.
"That's the way of the world, Asuka." Miyabi got out. "There's so much to learn about people and how they work. You need to stop making assumptions based on anecdotes and circumstantial evidence. Only what is laid out in front of you...once you start digging into their personal lives without their knowledge." She then added.
"I...I see..." Asuka got out in a sad tone. "Well, sorry for making such wild accusations." She then apologized.
"There you go." Miyabi got out as she patted the Vice Leader on the shoulder. "Only Imu herself can say she's in love with me." She then stated.
BZZT! BZZT!
"Ah, it's her." Miyabi got out as she answered the call. "Hello?" She then started.
"M-Miyabi! I love you!" Imu exclaimed, causing the Vice Leader's eyes to widen in shock.
"I love you too, Imu. I could never ask for a better friend. I'm in the middle of something right now, so I'll call you later." Miyabi responded before hanging up, missing the cry of anguish. "Now, what were we talking about again?" She then got out, smiling pleasantly while the Vice Leader stared in disbelief.
Though eventually, Asuka sweatdropped. "She's in complete denial...or doesn't even realize..." She thought to herself. "It's...nothing Miyabi-chan." She awkwardly responded.
"Alright." Miyabi replied while shrugging her shoulders. "Now let's order something already. I'm starving." She then decided.
"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod before looking out the window. "Ah, such a nice Monday today, don't you think?" She then sighed out with a smile.
However, that caused the white haired woman to stop and think. "...Wait..." Miyabi mumbled before slapping her forehead. "Oh shit, work!" She then swore out.
"Eh?" Asuka got out, confused.
"Sorry, I have to go!" Miyabi exclaimed.
"You have a job?" Asuka soon asked in a curious manner.
"Bye, Asuka!" The white haired woman could only respond before...
WHOOSH!
"...So much for hanging out..." Asuka sighed just as the waitress arrived. "...I'll have a Frui-Tea, thanks." She soon requested, the employee taking the order and relaxing herself.
(Hebijo Hideout)
Ever since discovering who the assassin was, the second year blonde began to spend her current time making sure the garden was well maintained for a steady food supply.
"It should be able to sustain itself for a little while before someone has to go and take care of things." Yomi muttered to herself as she made sure all the plants were watered.
"Yosh, these beansprouts are growing quite nicely." Yomi declared in approval before noticing a patch of time. "Hm? Strange, why are these ones pink...?" She soon wondered in a curious and fascinated manner. "I must've bought one of those special seed packets." She then assumed while shrugging it off.
SHATTER!
"Ah!" Yomi squeaked out, covering her head as tiny shards of glass rained down on her. Once she thought it was safe, she looked up to see that one of the lightbulbs had exploded. "Oh no...uh...I think there were spares in the back." She muttered as she went over to the storage room, getting one and immediately replacing the broken one.
"I need to leave in a few days..." Yomi sighed out in disappointment while changing the lightbulb. "I...I don't want to leave, but Hikage-chan and Mirai-chan will need my help at Hebijo." She then confessed and reminded herself.
"And who knows? Maybe they'll join me in my new crusade against the selfish!" Yomi then declared in a passionate manner before pausing. "...I need to stop talking to myself outloud." She eventually sighed as she went back to work.
(8/7, Midnight)
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)
"Hey dude, let's hang out!"
"Agh..." Both Morgana and Akira groaned as they were woken up by the Leader's ringtone.
"Why is everyone calling us in the middle of the night?" Morgana yawned as the Leader grabbed his phone.
[SushiRoll23: Hey, sorry for texting really late but um...there's this movie I wanna see called Menma: The First and Homu-nee told me she's busy so um...do you wanna go with me?]
"Huh, sounds interesting." Morgana admitted. "Are you going to commit to this?"
"It's another chance to get to know my teammates." Akira responded before typing his response.
[TheWildJ0ker: I would love to.]
[SushiRoll23: Thanks Akira-kun!]
[SushiRoll23: Oh, it's going to be at Toyo Cinema at 11.]
With a sigh, Akira put down his phone and went back to sleep, hoping he wouldn't wake up late.
(8/7, Daytime)
(Shibuya, Toyo Cinema)
"Akira-kun!" Asuka greeted as she waved over to the glasses-wearing boy just as he arrived above ground. "I'm glad you made it!" She then confessed with a smile.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Akira replied as he ran up to the girl. "Why do you want to see this movie anyways?" He soon asked.
"Mmm...I just wanted to see something interesting." Asuka sheepishly revealed while rubbing the back of her head.
Akira simply chuckled to that. "Sounds about right coming from you." He jokingly replied. "It's almost time. If you want popcorn and drinks, we better get it now." He then advised.
"Hai." Asuka responded with a nod as the two headed in.
"If you attack the village, I'll have no choice; I will fight you, don't doubt that...Until that day, save your hatred. Then you can throw all of it right at me. I'm the only one who can handle all that hate! Do you understand? I'm the only one who can fulfill that duty, so I'll bear the burden of your hatred, and I'll die with you! Because you're my cousin's uncle's daughter!"
Akira noted that some of the main characters were played by members of an idol group he's been hearing about lately: Milky Pop. Their stunts look rather realistic...are they not using CGI or stunt doubles?
"A ninja who was ignored and told to follow in his father's footsteps, only to leave his shadow and become his own legend. Such an inspiring tale. I'm sure the other shinobi will like this film and come out of it with something to think about." Morgana commented.
Akira, glancing at his side, saw that the Vice Leader was totally invested in the movie. Maybe because it hit so close to home?
Akira and Asuka watched the movie in its entirety, even staying for the credits.
As the duo walked out, the Vice Leader had a delighted expression on her face as she held her bucket of popcorn. "That was such a great movie!" Asuka got out.
"Yeah, it was fun." Akira replied as he finished off his soda.
"I know! I really liked that last fight scene. It was emotional. Having to fight your cousin's uncle's daughter..." Asuka gushed before she paused in thought. "Wait, cousin's...uncle's...What does that mean?" She soon asked.
It's his nephew.
It's his sister.
It's his mother.
"It's his sister." Akira answered. "Don't know why they had to do it in such a roundabout way..." He then admitted.
"...Akira-kun. They get married at the end." Asuka reminded before blinking. "...Oh my God." She soon muttered.
"Okay. Incest. They allowed that." Akira got out, eyes wide as they stared blankly into space.
"D-Don't get any ideas for me and Homu-neechan!" Asuka demanded in a panicked manner. "A-And I know you were thinking about it!" She then accused.
"Look, that's only okay in hentai." Akira stated as he walked off.
"Yeah, well, I guess- wait, what?" Asuka started, before realizing what was said. "Akira-kun? Akira-kun! Moh!" She then called out as she ran after the boy.
(Inokashira Park)
The tan skinned girl was pacing back and forth in a hasty manner. "Why isn't he here yet? I need to make money now." She mumbled before spotting a familiar mop of dark blue hair. "Yusuke, over here!" She soon called out.
"Homura-san." Yusuke greeted as he ran up to the girl. "You've rarely talked to me outside of meetings before. Is something the matter?"
"No. Well, not really. It's sort of a personal thing. You're the only person I know with any artistic talent so..." Homura began before bowing down. "Can you please help me with my ViewTube channel!?" She suddenly requested.
"...ViewTube?" Yusuke repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Just one viral video, that's all I need out of this!" The tan skinned girl then pleaded.
"Homura, I know next to nothing about current trends online." The young artist pointed out. "Isn't there anyone else more suited to such a task?" Yusuke soon questioned.
"No." Homura immediately answered. "I just need fancy graphics, I'll take care of anything else." She then requested and informed.
"Do you even have a computer to edit on?" Yusuke soon asked.
"I can do it on my phone, can't I?" Homura replied as she held up her phone. "I even downloaded some apps, Took up most of my available space, but it should be good." She then added as she scrolled through her apps.
"Where did you even hear about this?" Yusuke meanwhile asked.
"Found out about it while looking up freelance jobs." Homura answered. "If you do something cool or dumb enough, you can make some serious cash. And with my skill and luck, I can get either result." She then explained.
"What exactly do you plan to do?" Yusuke soon questioned.
"Well...at first I had no idea, so I asked my friends from Hebijo for some suggestions." Homura answered. "They had some pretty good ideas." She then informed.
"Being...what exactly?" Yusuke responded.
"Let me show you." Homura responded with a smirk.
"Oh no." Yusuke responded in concern.
"It's not going to be that bad." Homura assured in a confident tone. "I'll just do a comedy routine, then an eating challenge, a song, then a bomb defusal, and finish it off with fireworks. The perfect formula for a viral video." She soon declared while listing off what she planned to do.
"Bomb defusal...?" Yusuke however repeated.
"Um...yeah...about that...can I borrow some paint...?" Homura soon requested sheepishly.
Yusuke however sweatdropped. "Homura-san, instead of something so...complicated and dangerous, why don't you livestream something, like dancing?" He eventually suggested.
"...Huh?" Homura got out in confusion to the suggestion.
"I've studied your movements in battle and attempted to replicate it onto a canvas, but it would never translate well. You'd need to see it in action." Yusuke soon explained.
"...You want me to beat you up?" Homura soon assumed, already raising her fist
"No! No, I was trying to say your movements are as elegant as the finest dancer on stage." Yusuke exclaimed, flinching away from the girl. "Plus, there is apparently a trend for dancing videos right now. Some are even able to quit their jobs and do it full-time." He then revealed. He actually didn't know if dancing was all that popular right now, but he really didn't want to waste paint on a stunt.
"Then...maybe that would work." Homura soon suggested. She did like dancing with her teacher in Elegance. "Does ViewTube livestream?" She muttered as she looked through the app. "Hey, you can livestream!" She then informed with a smirk.
"If I may, I will act as your cameraman." Yusuke soon offered. "I have quite the steady hand after all." He then admitted with a confident smile.
"Thank you, Yusuke." Homura replied with a smirk. "Let's start right now." She then decided.
"Alright, let me set up the stream for you." Yusuke responded as he started preparing the camera. "You used your IM name...?" He then asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It was the best I could think of." Homura confessed. "Has it started yet?" She soon asked.
"Almost...got it! You're live!" Yusuke informed just as he hit the start button.
As soon as she saw the red light on her phone turn on, she put on her biggest smile. "Hello, everyone!" Homura greeted.
"There is currently...one viewer." Yusuke helpfully informed with a satisfied smile.
"H-Hello...you. I'm FireGirl20!" Homura awkwardly greeted and introduced herself. "E-Erm...I'm gonna dance now, so feel free to watch." She then informed and requested as she started the noh style music, taking out her red and white fans before dancing to the rhythm.
"Hm, that dance seems similar to Yumi-senpai's." Yusuke quietly noted to himself. However, he noticed that the numbers jumped between one and fifteen concurrent viewers.
The comments, however...
"Eh, I'm not into noh but she seems pretty nice."
"Must be her first time streamin;"
"Wow, look at her moves..."
"It feels kinda weird...like I'm watching a stripper."
"I wanna talk to her instead of watching her dance."
"How long are you going to do this?" Yusuke had to ask.
"About thirty minutes." Homura informed. "How many people are watching?" She then got out.
"...Fifteen." Yusuke informed. "For a first stream, that's actually quite good." He then noted.
"I...I expected a lot more people though..." Homura awkwardly confessed.
"Becoming famous, online and offline, requires more than just looks and skill." Yusuke stated with a shake of his head. "Sometimes, it's only a matter of luck." He then added.
"O-Oh, well, thank you for coming everyone." Homura began, attempting to sound calm and charismatic. "I'm just glad there are people here to watch me make a fool of myself here. I'm...I'm kinda broke right now and I really need a job so uh...if you know of anything in Shibuya, do you mind sending it my way?" She then sheepishly asked.
"You're streaming to get job offers?"
"Damn, that has to suck."
"Good luck!"
"You can probably get a sponsorship..."
"How broke are you?"
"...Eh, if you need it..."
"Hm? Oh, it appears that you got a donation. For...1000 yen." Yusuke informed.
"Huh? Th-Thank you. That's really appreciated." Homura got out with a blush.
"Holy shit! She's adorable!"
"Think she's going places?"
"Oh yeah."
The stream was now starting to gather steam, topping out at 115 viewers. The donations were consistent, a couple coming in every minute. Glancing at the amount, she had already shot past a month of working at Big Bang Burger already.
"Hm, you've obtained a small but dedicated fanbase." Yusuke soon noted. "You're not a viral hit, but a loyal following is never a bad thing." He then informed and stated.
"E-Erm...I-I'm gonna just keep dancing now..." Homura mumbled before doing so
"Be a talk streamer!"
"Man, look at her chesticles..."
"Maybe get a moderator here..."
"Woo! You go girl!"
An hour later, Homura ended the dance stream as she relaxed herself while looking at the phone camera. "Thank you for coming, everyone! I don't know if I'll do this again, but subscribe and you'll find out! Bye for now!" She called out, waving to them before bowing as her friend ended the stream.
"Aw man, bummer!"
"Bye!"
"I really hope she streams again."
"OH GOD I HAVE WORK"
"And...offline." the young artist announced. "You should bring a charger next time. Livestreaming took out a large amount of your battery." He then suggested while handing the tan skinned girl back her phone.
"I'll think about it." Homura replied.
"However you made quite the amount of money today. Congratulations." Yusuke soon congratulated the girl.
"Yeah, but the site takes a portion of donations so it's not as much as you think." Homura remembered. "Plus, there is your cut." She then added.
The artist's eyes however widened to that. "M-My what?" Yusuke got out in shock.
"I'll transfer some of the money to your bank account. You did help me after all." Homura informed and reminded with a smile.
"I...I don't know what to say. Thank you."
"Just don't spend it in one place." Homura requested. The young artist laughed a little, only to see the completely serious expression on the tan skinned girl's face.
"I...won't." Yusuke awkwardly chuckled. "I believe this was a success. I'll be glad to film for you again if you wish." He soon stated.
"Thanks. And that...that was really fun." Homura responded and confessed. "I wonder what other people are doing on ViewTube." She then asked in a curious manner.
"Well then why don't we relax and watch some other streams before we head home." Yusuke soon suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Homura replied before sitting down next to the boy and grabbed her phone.
Most of the streams right now were gaming streams, chatting or someone reacting to other ViewTube videos, but there was one that caught her eye.
"Oh, another dance stream." Yusuke noted.
"GangsterVenom?" Homura read out with a raised eyebrow.
It was a girl around her age with green hair and yellow eyes like snakes, though her hair covered one of her eyes. She was wearing a black skin tight t-shirt with a white snake design on it and a green skirt, which revealed her tattoos.
"...Wait, is that Hikage!?" Homura thought in disbelief. "Huh, she really changed her look." She then added in her head.
"Hm, she has over fifty thousand viewers." Yusuke noted, causing the tan skinned girl to choke on air. "And it appears to be rising at a rapid pace." He then added.
"Yo, yo, yo! This is GangsterVenom and thank you all for coming to my fifth livestream!" Hikage happily called out as she waved and posed to the camera, shocking the tan skinned girl. "To be honest, I only started doing this to help support Poochie and to beat the heat, but I never expected anything like this. Please save your money for essentials instead of me, I have more than enough." She then confessed and requested with a wink.
"I just got here, what the hell is happening?"
"I LOVE U"
"I drew fanart of you!"
"Dance, my queen!"
"Is that hair natural?"
"[comment deleted by moderator]"
"[comment deleted by moderator]"
"[comment deleted by moderator]"
"That request only seems to be making them want to donate more." Yusuke however stated as more donations were sent to her.
"...Since when did she become more emotional!?" Homura mentally asked in disbelief while blinking a couple of times. "Note to self, ask Haruka about this." She then decided in her head.
"And now, with special permission, my next song will be the one that has been requested the most by chat." The greenette announced, causing the chat to go wild. "I will now sing Rap God. Now let's sacrifice our will to our dance!" She soon declared, pumping a fist into the air as she started her show.
"Look, I was gonna go easy on you, not to hurt your feelings~ But I'm only going to get this one chance. Something's wrong, I can feel it~" Hikage began singing as she also started dancing in a professional manner.
"WOO!"
"Go girl!"
"You can do this!"
"(breadstick emojis)"
"...Why is she so good!?" Homura mentally exclaimed. "I have never heard her rap! Ever! And when did she learn to samba!?" She then added. "...Maybe I should try singing too next time..." She soon muttered, pondering on the idea now.
The two soon just stared at the screen as they watched the greenette perform an entire rap and samba dance concert for an entire hour.
(8/8, Midnight)
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)
Akira was enjoying a nice dream about...
"Hey dude, let's hang out!"
...About Ryuji punching him awake and throwing him out of bed without so much as a warning.
"Goddammit." Akira grumbled, opening his eyes.
"What are they doing so late at night?" Morgana tiredly wondered as the Leader grabbed his phone.
[FireGirl20: Are you asleep? Just found out there's this movie coming out tomorrow called Dreadpool. Want to go see it? Asuka told me she's busy with modeling tomorrow.]
"Why can't she just ask me in the morning?" Akira thought.
"Dreadpool, huh? Sounds a little violent." Morgana responded as he looked at the message. "Do you want to hang out with Homura first thing tomorrow?" He soon asked.
Akira was already writing down his answer on his phone.
[TheWildJ0ker: Sounds fun. I'm in.]
[FireGirl20: Meet me at the movie theater on Central Street.]
Another day, another movie date. Akira put down his phone and closed his eyes to continue dreaming about more adventures in the Metaverse.
(8/8, Daytime)
(Shibuya, Toyo Cinema)
"Okay, where is she?" The Leader muttered as he checked his phone. He was on time, and he was at the right location, so where was...
"What do you mean you had no idea!?" Akira heard a familiar voice exclaim. "Oh don't just say that you aren't an internet person! This has been going on for at least a month! ...Don't tell that it's not your business, Haruka! You know about the birthmark in between my...you don't know? I-It's nowhere! You're distracting me from the real issue here! Don't you giggle at me!"
"That's probably her." Akira thought with an amused chuckle, finding the girl grumpily hanging up. "Hey there!" He called out.
"Hey!" The tan skinned girl greeted with a wave.
"Homura." The Leader greeted as he ran up to the girl. "So, why this movie?" Akira eventually asked.
"Oh, I heard it was rejected from classification three different times before it was approved after a bunch of reshoots. Even then, it's 18+ or something." Homura informed.
Akira blinked. "Uh, Homura? We're 16." He soon reminded.
"Hasn't stopped us before." Homura pointed out with a shrug.
"...Yeah, you have a point." Akira admitted with a nod and a rebellious smirk. "You bought the snacks?" He then asked.
"From Triple 7." Homura simply replied as she took a bite of a candy bar. "Still no way I'm buying food from here." She then declared.
"I think it's all overpriced because most of their profit comes from food, not the tickets they sell." Akira remembered.
"What a dumb business strategy." Homura remarked. "I really hope the movie is good. I sort of just bought the tickets on a whim." She then got out and confessed.
"Impulse buying isn't a good thing, Homura." Akira pointed out.
"I know. Now hurry up, the movie should be starting soon." Homura responded as the two headed in.
"TELL ME WHAT I DON'T KNOW!"
"Okay, first you need to tell me what you d-"
BLAM!
"OH MY GOD! AAAAHHHHH! My blood! H-He shot out all my blood! With a fucking shotgun! Ah! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
Akira couldn't help but wince yet chuckle as a spine was ripped out from another unlucky soul's back and then used to bludgeon his friend to death. The gore displayed here was so over-the-top it went from horrifying to funny. He wondered if he could apply such techniques in the Metaverse.
"This movie has an almost uncomfortable amount of violence and blood. No wonder this movie barely dodged being banned from theaters. However, it is a rather interesting tale of a super-powered mercenary saving one of the only things he loves. I guess strength means nothing when you're alone in the world." Morgana commented.
Glancing right next to him, Akira saw the tan skinned girl studying the movie, taking notes and muttering to herself. He didn't know if he should take that as either enjoyment or something very worrying.
Akira, for seeing such a violent movie, felt his Guts strengthen and seeing the quieter, more human moments improved his Kindness.
Meanwhile for Homura, the human moments made her feel as though her Understanding was improving as well.
"Welp, that was...kind of insane." Homura muttered out. "I liked it though. Mike Milson was such an awesome protagonist despite how weird he is." She then admitted.
I feel sorry for him.
He was insane.
"I feel sorry for him." Akira admitted. "I mean, I can't imagine only living to fight because it's the only thing you know, and needing to do so to hang onto the one thing that keeps you sane is sad." He then explained.
Homura thought about it and winced. "Yeah..." She got out in a sad tone. "Ugh, I didn't think a movie that involved an eyeball enema would hit so close to home." She then admitted.
"Please don't make me remember that..." Akira groaned as he rubbed his eyes. Only the images of cute puppies doing cute things would bleach his eyes.
"Sorry, sorry." Homura apologized. "I'm still hungry. Wanna grab something to eat?" She then offered.
"I'd thought you'd never ask." Akira responded as they went on to hang out until the afternoon.
(Asakusa, Sky Tower)
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
"Okay...I think that's everything we need." The cameraman called out as the models relaxed. "Nice work, ladies." He then praised in approval.
"Thank you, Photographer-san!" Asuka replied with a smile.
"No need to thank me. Now go get lunch." The photographer soon ordered.
"Sure thing." Ann responded with a nod. "You did great, Asuka. You're a natural now." She then praised.
"Thanks. I think I'm ready for whatever this job throws at me." Asuka replied and confessed.
"I'm glad to hear that." Ann giggled as they headed over to one of the windows overlooking Tokyo. "You think we can do cosplay someday?" She soon wondered.
"Cosplay?" Asuka repeated in a curious manner.
"Yeah, I've been looking it up lately and it seems so fun." Ann revealed and confessed. "Although, I can't sew to save my life..." She then admitted in a sheepish manner.
"I heard there are studios that specialize in that type of thing." One of the other models at the shoot informed, having overheard the conversation. "However, it is a little pricey and I heard it takes weeks before we can start taking photos." She then informed.
"I wanna try it though. I mean, I've always wanted to dress up as my childhood hero." Ann admitted before turning back to her friend. "Maybe once we don't have to worry about, you know, people ruining others days we can visit one." She then suggested in a whispering tone.
"Sounds fun." Asuka replied with a smile.
"How childish." A familiar rude voice remarked.
Ann however groaned to the sight of the auburn haired girl. However, she was joined with another woman. "Why are you even here? You're not even in this shoot!" She asked and reminded.
"What? Can't a girl visit the Sky Tower with her girlfriend?" Ranze countered in annoyance while rolling her eyes.
"...You have a girlfriend?" Asuka got out with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't act surprised." Ranze scoffed as she rolled her eyes once more.
At that moment, a black haired girl took the rude girl's hand."Ah, sorry about her." She suddenly apologized as she took the auburn haired girl's arm and placed it in between her chest. "Ran-tan, please be nice to the kids." She then requested.
"You know my problems with them." Ranze muttered in annoyance.
"They're kids!" Her girlfriend reminded.
"They represent everything that I-" Ranze began before taking a deep breath. "No, not here. We're here to enjoy our date." She soon muttered to herself. "Well, have fun at your shoot, you two." She then added.
"And you have fun with your date." Asuka replied.
"Thank you." Ranze sighed before grabbing her girlfriend's hand. "Let's go, Gabu-chan."
"What is with you? You're usually a lot nicer..." Gabu-chan whispered with a frown.
"It's nothing. Now let's go and rest at a hotel already." Ranze quietly responded as the two went to the elevator.
Asuka narrowed her eyes. What was her problem with her?
"What the hell does she see in her..." Ann muttered under her breath.
"Just ignore Ranze, just ignore her Asuka Shirokage. You'll show her up at the runway show..." Asuka mentally instructed herself while taking in a deep breath.
"Hey Asuka-chan, Ann-chan, you wanna go out to get something to eat with the rest of us?" One of the other models offered.
"I can go for a bite." Ann replied as the Vice Leader nodded agreement.
(8/9, Midnight)
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)
"Hey dude, let's hang out!"
Akira was beginning to regret setting his best friend as his ringtone. Maybe he should keep his phone on vibrate when he heads to bed.
"Again?" The not cat yawned.
"They've been calling all summer..." Akira yawned as he grabbed his phone and checked the IM.
[Negative8Degrees: Akira-kun, is this a bad time? The local movie theater is screening Animalopolis and I wish to see it. I do not want to go alone, so do you mind accompanying me? Only if you are not busy that is.]
"Do they really need a response right now?" Morgana groaned. "Can't it be saved tomorrow?" He then added.
"Probably not." Akira assumed.
"Well, are you going to commit to this with Lady Yumi?" Morgana soon asked.
"...Yeah." Akira decided after some thought before texting his reply.
[TheWildJ0ker: I'll be there.]
[Negative8Degrees: Thank you. I have already bought the tickets. Come to Cult9 by 10 AM, okay?]
"Whoever invented summer blockbusters...I will find you someday..." Akira mentally grumbled as he fell asleep, dreaming about him and Makoto punching sharks out of the water.
(8/9, Daytime)
(Shinjuku, Cult9 Movie Theatre)
"Akira-kun." Yumi greeted once she saw the boy arrive.
"Yumi." The Leader replied as he ran up to the girl waiting just outside the theater. "There's a lot of kids here..." He then remarked, feeling a little awkward.
"I know. Animalopolis is one of the most anticipated movies of the summer." Yumi soon informed, looking rather excited.
"I didn't know that. But then again, I haven't been paying attention to anything about movies either." Akira admitted.
"I admit, I did not see a lot of movies either. However, this is for my training and this is a must-see." Yumi stated with a happy smile.
"Well, whatever floats your boat." Akira got out with a shrug.
Yumi soon checked the time on her phone and gasped. "It's almost time. Let's pick up some popcorn before we head in." The info broker informed.
"Alright." Akira nodded before they headed in.
"All you predators are racist!"
"Hey, you're racist!"
"No you are!"
"No you are!"
"What the duck did you just ducking say about me, you little doggy? I'll have you know I graduated top of my class in the Japanese Self-Defense Force, and I've been involved in numerous secret raids on Tartarus, and I have over 300 confirmed kills. I am trained in gorilla warfare and I'm the top sniper in the entire Japanese armed forces. You are nothing to me but just another target. I will wipe you the nut out with precision the likes of which has never been seen before on this Earth, mark my trucking words. You think you can get away with saying that pig slop to me over the Internet? Think again, sucker. As we speak I am contacting my secret network of spies across the nation and your IP is being traced right now so you better prepare for the storm, maggot. The storm that wipes out the pathetic little thing you call your life. You're licking dead, kid. I can be anywhere, anytime, and I can kill you in over seven hundred ways, and that's just with my bare hands. Not only am I extensively trained in unarmed combat, but I have access to the entire arsenal of the National Police Reserve and I will use it to its full extent to wipe your miserable pork off the face of the continent, you little mallard. If only you could have known what unholy retribution your little clever comment was about to bring down upon you, maybe you would have held your cute tongue. But you couldn't, you didn't, and now you're paying the price, you goddamn idiot. I will furiously fury all over you and you will drown in it. You're gucking dead, kiddo."
"I still can't believe we came to see a kids movie. However, there are some rather mature themes here. Fighting against prejudice, even if it means fighting against their own organization. And the criminal who became the city's hero in the end. It actually warms my heart." Morgana commented.
Looking at the seat next to him, Akira saw the Vice Advisor watching the movie with sparkling eyes. He quickly assumed that she wanted to watch this movie for all the cute animals instead of the plot. He felt his Kindness and Knowledge increased all the same.
Regardless of Yumi's...odd reason and fascination with this particular movie, they stayed for the credits.
"Did you see that little hare? My goodness, I thought I was going to have a heart attack just from seeing her." Yumi squealed.
"You didn't pay attention to the plot." Akira awkwardly pointed out.
"There was a plot?" Yumi innocently asked. "Um...what was it about?" She then got out with a raised eyebrow.
About pride.
About prejudice.
About Morgana.
"It was about prejudice." Akira answered.
"Hm, to have such adult themes explained in a way that kids can understand." Yumi muttered, understanding the true meaning of the film. "Quite a clever move. I just hope the kids today will take something from it someday." She then praised and admitted.
"They are the future of this world. We have to make sure they know how to run it after we're gone." Akira stated. "Teach them these things early and they'll keep it in their hearts for the rest of their lives." He then quoted. Thank you, Yoshida.
Yumi couldn't help but remember the lessons her grandfather taught during the early days of her training. "I...can agree with that statement." She then replied with a nod. "Is there any lesson you still remember from when you were a child?" She soon questioned in a curious manner.
"Erm...let's see..." Akira responded while thinking about it. "Be a strong leader who never cries in the face of adversity and trials..." He began quoting.
"Hm, well..." Yumi began, however...
"...because otherwise, you'll release a demonic monstrosity that was sealed within you and tear apart the space-time continuum." Akira concluded, confusing the light gray haired girl. "...It was from 2006. Times were different then." He simply explained.
"...I see." Yumi finished.
"You have a lesson from your childhood?" Akira soon asked in a curious manner.
"Ojii-sama told me and my friends that Evil should be struck down to create a world without problems." Yumi recited.
"You've learned from that though." Akira however reminded.
The light gray haired girl in response nodded. "Hai. Though I am still upset over some of them." She then admitted. "Like the ones that hurt my friends. True Evils that hurt and make others suffer for their own benefit." She stated in a more serious tone.
"Well, adults aren't always the wisest people in the world." Akira stated. "Now, is that all you wanted to do today?" He soon asked.
"Well, we could go get some food. I need to get the salty taste out of my mouth." Yumi suggested and explained.
"Alright, let's go get some bread." Akira replied with a nod as the two headed out.
(Sakamoto Residence)
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I'm comin', I'm comin'..." Ryuji groaned as he headed for the front door and opened it. "M-Miyabi?" He got out in confusion.
"Hey." Miyabi simply greeted with a wave.
"What are you doing here?" Ryuji had to ask with a raised eyebrow.
"Why don't you have pants?" Miyabi countered as she stared at his Neo Featherman boxers.
Ryuji looked down before shutting the door. A few seconds later, he opened the door with shorts on. "My mom's at work right now." He explained. "I've just been reading, is all." He then revealed.
"Oh, what novel are you reading then?" Miyabi soon asked with a raised eyebrow. "No father?" She thought to herself.
"Eh, not really book books, comics and manga." Ryuji responded and revealed. "Been getting into the American stuff recently, like Marvel and DC." He then added.
"DC?" Miyabi repeated.
"You know, Detective Comics...Comics..." Ryuji awkwardly answered as he took out his phone before typing on it. "Here, watch these videos." He offered as he showed his phone.
"Why not just give me your comics?" Miyabi asked with a raised eyebrow as she went inside the apartment.
"I...I don't own anything physical." Ryuji admitted. "It's really hard to find any here. I'm reading it online." He then admitted.
"...You're pirating it?" Miyabi guessed.
"Yeah, I'm pirating it." Ryuji replied with no shame.
"Wasn't your old Persona a pirate...?" Miyabi soon asked.
"That has nothing to do with it." Ryuhi responded with a sweatdrop. "Besides, all the official stuff is in English. I need it translated into Japanese." He then added.
"Fair enough." Miyabi replied with a nod of understanding.
However, she then heard an irritating laughter coming from the phone, grabbing her attention.
"...What's up with the messed up clown causing terrorist levels of destruction?" Miyabi questioned as she narrowed her eyes in anger and disgust to the sight of the burning city with said clown laughing like he was enjoying it.
"That is the Joker." Ryuji informed.
"..." Miyabi in response raised an eyebrow.
"...N-No real correlation with Leader." Ryuji quickly added. "He's just...killing and destroying because...well, no one really knows, other than spreading chaos or making one sick joker after another."
"Since the Joker is that bad, why not kill him?" Miyabi then asked.
"Well, one game tried that scenario and it ended up with a hero becoming a tyrant that took over the world." Ryuji replied.
Miyabi immediately blinked a couple of times after hearing that. "How the hell does that happen?" She soon questioned.
"The Joker went too far and nuked the heroes' home city he protected." Ryuji answered, causing the white haired woman to pale.
"Ok yeah, that would push someone to kill, even a hero." Miyabi responded. "However, it wouldn't have been a problem in the first place if someone just killed him before that. I mean, a superhero's duty is to protect the innocent at any cost."
"Yeah, though would you agree with him turning the world into somethin' called a police state?" Ryuji soon asked.
"No, but someone should've killed him. It's their goddamn fault for letting a terrorist live for so long." Miyabi stated. "So, why didn't they kill him earlier?" She then questioned.
"Well...it would be against their morals." Ryuji answered.
Miyabi however narrowed her eyes to that. "Screw morals! If one death prevents a million more, I would gladly chop his head off." The white haired woman stated. "They're just letting him live because there'd be no conflict otherwise." She then accused as she rolled her eyes.
"Well, comics do have a habit of reviving dead people." Ryuji awkwardly muttered.
"..." Miyabi's eye twitched. "Then why should I bother when everything goes back to normal only a few issues later? Does nothing change in America?" She then questioned.
"Eh...not really..." Ryuji responded. "But...you really think like that? I mean, you're changing hearts with us too, right?" He then got out.
"Let me make this clear, Sakamoto; death can solve many problems." Miyabi stated. "But since the Phantom Thieves are a public entity, we can't risk a death being on our hands. Our public reception is too important for us and we can't have the police on our asses."
"Yeah, you got that right." Ryuji admitted in agreement. "But the thought of just killin' someone...leaves a bad taste in your mouth." He then added.
"Well, you're a civilian. Unless you're a psycho, cultist , shinobi or part of the JSDF, you aren't supposed to kill another human being." Miyabi stated.
"Yeah..." Ryuji got out as he looked away, glancing at an old photo of when he was a kid with his mom. "God, am I really gonna kill someone someday...?" He wondered, his voice shaking a little.
"You do if you must to protect your loved ones." Miyabi replied.
The dyed blond wanted to change the subject. Fast. "So...what books do you read, Miyabi?" Ryuji soon asked.
"Eh, classic stuff. Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, the Divine Comedy." Miyabi responded as she listed off some of her books. "The Divine Comedy is actually my favorite. Dante's journey is so enthralling." She then confessed.
"...You mean Dante from Devil May Cry?" Ryuji suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Miyabi got out in confusion.
"E-Erm, you know...the game?" Ryuji muttered.
The white haired woman in turn sweatdropped upon hearing that. "Is the only thing you're into is games and manga?" Miyabi asked before realizing what she just said. "...Actually, I already know the answer to that. Never mind." She then added before grabbing one of his books to read. "I have nothing better to do today, so do you mind letting me hang out here for a while?" She soon asked.
"Nah, I don't mind." Ryuji replied with a grin. "Feel free to come over anytime." He then offered.
"Thanks." Miyabi nodded before settling down into a seat and opening the book.
(8/10, Midnight)
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc Attic)
"Hey dude, let's hang out!"
"Why is everyone calling you so late!?" Morgana complained in frustration. He was already awake just waiting for the call. "Don't they need sleep!?" He then added.
"This is what you get for having so many friends..." Akira mumbled to himself as he grabbed his phone.
[DarkEyeXI: Hey, um...Want to see a movie tomorrow? It's some horror movie called Shiv. You don't have to come, I just thought you'd buy me snacks.]
"Are you-" Morgana began, however...
"I may as well complete the set!" Akira interrupted, already texting the woman.
[TheWildJ0ker: I'll bring some.]
[DarkEyeXI: I'll take that as a yes.]
[DarkEyeXI: Toyo Cinema, 10:30 AM]
Akira didn't even bother and slapped the phone on his forehead, going to sleep soon after.
(8/10, Daytime)
(Shibuya, Toyo Cinema)
"You got here just in time." Miyabi stated in approval as the Leader arrived.
"Yeah, sorry. I would've been earlier but I woke up a little later than I was comfortable with." Akira got out in an apologetic tone. "Probably because of all the calls in the middle of the goddamn night..." He then grumbled under his breath.
"Well, as long as you're here." Miyabi got out before wincing at the shining sun. "We really should've gone at night. Walking out into the sunlight is going to be so jarring..." She then sighed while wiping some sweat off her head.
"Why is that a problem?" Akira however asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I like walking out into the cold night, especially after a scary movie." Miyabi simply responded. "I'd huddle up next to Imu to keep warm, like I'm staying close to protect her from the psychopath or monster from the film." She then explained, recalling some nostalgic moments.
"Well, there's going to be torrential rain tonight so I doubt that would be as nice." Akira informed.
"Ah damn." Miyabi sighed. "Well, the movie's going to start soon. Want some snacks?" She then added and asked.
"I'm good for some drinks." Akira replied.
"Alright, let me go grab some and then we can head there." Miyabi got out before going to buy some stuff to enjoy.
"You've been having a lot of popcorn and crap for the past four days." Morgana remarked as he popped his head out of the Leader's bag.
"You know I workout. I can handle a few days of junk." Akira responded and reassured.
"Alright, but you are getting a salad afterwards." Morgana replied and instructed.
"You're not my mom." Akira bluntly countered.
"..." The two were soon silent as they looked at one another.
"...Actually, I'm kinda glad you're not my mom." Akira admitted with a flat expression. "I'll get one from Triple 7 afterwards." He then decided.
"Thank you." Morgana replied in approval.
"I'm back." Miyabi informed as she held the drinks and snacks. "All they had was diet. You don't mind, right?" She then added and asked.
"It's fine. Now let's go." Akira responded as the two headed in.
"Luckily we're safe in this bunker with only one exit that we just barricaded with all our food, weapons and clothes!"
"Yes! We're safe! Now let's have crazy monkey sex with blindfolds and earmuffs so we can drown out the outside world and focus only on each other What's-Your-Name!"
"Yes we shall, Handsome Lady! What do you say, Bob? And is that a shank in your hand?"
"Oh no, it's not a shank, IT'S A SHIV!"
"OH MY GOD!"
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH! I DON'T WANNA WATCH ANYMORE! I WANNA LEAVE! OH GOD, HE'S GOT THE SHIV! HE'S GOT THE SHIV! DON'T RUN THERE! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Morgana screamed in terror along with the rest of the audience.
The plot was next to nonexistent but everyone who bought ticket were sure this movie was an excuse to kill stupid teenagers in often hilarious and brutal ways. For example, the killer was currently using the sharpened plastic spork to gouge out the dumb jock's eye...handle first.
However, the Leader had turned away from the screen to see the most disturbing thing in the cinema.
Akira could only stare dumbfounded upon seeing that the white haired woman was laughing at all these horrific scenes, which was drowned out by the constant screaming and horrible deaths of the on-screen characters.
Equally intrigued and disturbed, Akira felt his Guts strengthen.
Akira had a wide-eyed stare as everyone walked out of the theater, along with all the others who had come to see the movie. "That should not have been rated R." He got out, just as the only non-traumatized person came up to him.
"Oh man, I haven't laughed like that in a while." Miyabi giggled in amusement.
"I'm actually more afraid of you than I was by the movie." Akira admitted.
"As it should be!" Miyabi proudly declared. "And the reason it was funny was because of how cheesy it was!" She then explained.
"You...don't need to explain why it was so funny." Akira awkwardly muttered.
"Besides, the serial killer that the movie was based off of was killed years ago by my father." Miyabi casually revealed, causing the boy to look at her in disbelief. "What? The guy deserved it." She then asked and pointed out.
"That's...okay." Akira soon replied, still processing the idea that the movie was based on an actual event. "No wonder you decided to see this movie." He then got out.
"Well, it's never a bad thing to see your father's exploits." Miyabi admitted.
"Does he even know this movie exists?" Akira soon asked.
"I doubt it." Miyabi got out with a shake of her head. "Too busy with work to really sit down and watch a movie." She then explained.
"Not much family bonding time?" Akira awkwardly assumed.
"Not really. Even before everything, he was busy with stuff on a daily basis." Miyabi stated. "I love him with all my heart, but I wish he was around a little more often." She then confessed.
"He sounds like he's working hard to ensure you're happy and healthy." Akira muttered. "That movie didn't do him justice."
"He was a lot better-looking than whoever the hell acted as him. I've seen photos of my father in his younger days." Miyabi informed. "I think my mother fell in love with his delicate features..." She then got out as she rubbed her chin.
And that's when it hit him. "Wait, they thought your father was a woman?" Akira realized.
"Must've changed it for the movie version." Miyabi simply deducted in a nonchalant manner. "In any case, up for a bite now?" She soon suggested.
"I could go for something that isn't candy and popcorn." Akira responded.
"Sounds like you should go work out a bit." Miyabi soon noted.
"I workout every day before I head out." Akira revealed. "Just been going to a lot of movies lately." He then explained.
"Well, why don't we go for a run around a park? Work off some calories before we get something decent to eat." Miyabi soon suggested and explained.
"Just take it easy on me." Akira jokingly requested.
"It's a run, not a race. It's not my fault if you get left behind." Miyabi countered in amusement as they headed for the train station.
(Takura Productions, Dance Studio)
"With a color tone that shines in seven colors like a prism~ Cute is justice~" Yumi sang as she moved her body to the music. "I want you to hug me strongly and gently~ I think it's your favorite cute girl~"
"Remember Yumi-chan, its kick step, kick step, body roll." Rise reminded.
"H-Hai." Yumi responded with a nod. "To become one with the heart and body that melt together~ You are two prisoners here~" She continued singing as she resumed her dance.
"She's getting better." Inoue noted with a smile as he adjusted his glasses before looking to his assistant. "Do we have a date for her first concert?" He then questioned.
"The 23rd or the 25th. We're deciding on which one." The assistant replied.
"Set it for the 23rd." Inoue ordered. "It's about time the world knows about Yuki Yumi. Before that date, set up a gig at a small venue, like...uh...the cafe in Kichijoji. Have her get a little used to singing in public before we throw her into the deep end." He then stated and instructed.
"Yes sir." The assistant responded as he watched the practice going on. "You think she'll make it big?" He then asked.
"I know it." Inoue simply answered as the two watched the practice go on.
(8/11, Afternoon)
(Shujin Academy, Gymnasium)
Akira sighed as he arrived at the school gates. "Didn't think I'd come here out of my own free will." He muttered under his breath.
"Well, we do have to check on Lady Asuka's senpai." Morgana got out. "Did Queen give you any warnings about her?" He then asked.
"Yes. Good luck." Akira answered.
He had seen the advisor after a session and it was not pretty.
After steeling himself, he walked up the steps and made his way inside. "It should still be running, or at least wrapping up soon." He thought as he headed for the gymnasium. It actually took a little longer than he thought because he had barely gone to the gym after Kamoshida left.
As soon as he opened the door into the place, he instantly felt something was wrong.
"Aw damn, they cleaned up the place." Akira grumbled. They managed to clean the floors and the walls over the summer days, but the ceiling and higher places were still covered in paint. "Huh, I've been so used to seeing this school covered in graffiti, seeing parts of it so clean makes it feel weird." He then muttered to himself.
At that moment, a door opened from the equipment room, revealing a woman with an intimidating presence walking out writing on a clipboard.
"There she is." Morgana muttered. "I can feel her killing intent from here. Be careful, Joker." He then warned.
Akira nodded as the not cat popped back inside his bag. "Showtime. Um, excuse me." He spoke up while approaching the teacher.
The new gym teacher barely flinched, having heard him talk to his cat a mile away. "Ah, Akira Kurusu-san. You've finally come." Daidōji got out.
"You were expecting me?" Akira questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Although, not this late afterwards. Today's session has just finished." Daidōji responded and informed.
"Well, I just wanted to talk to you a little. It's not every day you meet one of Asuka's senpais." Akira got out as he rubbed his neck.
The student teacher simply chuckled to this in amusement. "Funny, the Student Council President said the exact same thing." Daidōji responded.
"Erm, how did she do?" Akira had to ask in concern.
"Her heart is that of a mighty warrior, drifting from one problem to another. Yet, she has the resolve to fight the storm and overcome it without anything but a fire in her eyes." Daidōji informed. "She reminds me of another disciple I have." She then confessed in a nostalgic tone while crossing her arms over her chest.
"...What?" Akira got out in confusion with a raised eyebrow.
"She did fine." Daidōji simplified.
"Didn't seem like it when I saw her." Akira mentally deadpanned. "How has the school been treating you?" He soon asked.
"Fine." Daidōji simply responded.
"No pervy comments, no cracks at your boobs?" Akira then bluntly asked with a raised eyebrow.
"If they wish to challenge my authority, they may do so. However, they must face the consequences of their actions." the new teacher got out in a threatening manner.
"So, detention?" Akira guessed.
"No, I help them with their homework." Daidōji revealed.
"Oh, that doesn't sound so bad." Akira got out as he blinked. "Erm, would you mind helping me with mine?" He then requested.
"No." Daidōji responded.
"Why?" Akira soon asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I'm not a very good teacher outside of physical education." Daidōji stated with confidence. "That was more Rin-senpai's job..." She then muttered to herself.
"So...you're making them fail their homework." Akira assumed.
"I tell them to check their answers." Daidōji revealed. "It will not be my fault should they fail to grasp my lack of knowledge of college level questions." She then stated.
"...This is a high school." Akira however reminded.
"I never finished." Daidōji casually revealed.
"...Asuka did mention that..." Akira muttered. "...Wait, then how did you get-" He then began to ask, however...
"How has this school treated you so far?" Daidōji soon questioned, interrupting the question that was about to be asked.
"...To be honest, not all that well." Akira answered. "Kamoshida pretty much made sure it would suck when I first transferred. At best, the students would tolerate my presence." He then explained and revealed.
"Hm, I see." Daidōji responded with a nod.
"Are you thinking you can do something about it?" Akira soon asked.
"Sadly, changing someone's mind isn't as easy as telling them." Daidōji stated. "Society in Japan does not tolerate anyone who goes outside it's norms. I doubt it will be any better once you graduate." She then added.
"Yeah, I know." Akira sighed out.
"Do you have a plan for the future?" Daidōji soon asked.
"Well, I doubt my grades will help me get into any university so maybe I'll get an apprenticeship." Akira muttered. "I have thought about moving out of the country once or twice." He then admitted.
"Not possible." Daidōji however stated. "There's a law stating that anyone with a criminal record cannot do so." She then informed.
"Ah. Damn." Akira sighed.
"However...if you ever need something, like a job or education, I have some connections." Daidōji eventually offered.
"Really?" Akira responded as he blinked a couple of times. "You're...gonna help me just like that?" He soon asked.
"It's what a teacher does, right?" Daidōji however countered. "Are the other teachers giving you trouble too?" She soon assumed.
"No. Well, most of them aren't. They're doing their job. No need to deal with them." Akira answered, Becky flashing across his mind.
Why was she grumpy even in his head?
"I am glad to hear." Daidōji responded with a nod of approval. "There's been enough abuse of power in my life. I will not allow it to continue any further in this school." She then stated and declared.
"Hear, hear." Akira replied in agreement. "Well, this has been a good conversation. I guess I'll see you once summer's over." He then decided.
"Kurusu-san," Daidōji however began. "Did you expect to leave here without a little training?" She soon questioned.
The Leader meanwhile began sweating in response as he felt an intense pressure, but made sure to keep his cool. "...Yes...?" Akira awkwardly responded.
"Hmm..." Daidōji hummed out as she gave the boy a quick up-down. "...10 laps." She soon decided.
"What?" Akira got out in confusion.
"10 laps around the gym. Now." Daidōji ordered in a no nonsense tone.
That threw the Leader through a loop. "Um, wait, I'm not in anything-" Akira tried to explain, however...
"Take off your shirt and pants." Daidōji then suddenly ordered.
"Huh?" Akira got out in a dumb tone.
"Strip down to your underwear unless you want to sweat in your jeans." Daidōji once more ordered.
"U-Uh..." Akira stammered as he began to sweat a little already.
"There is no one else here. Consider this a private training session." Daidōji eventually stated.
"I'm pretty sure there's something wrong about this." Akira pointed out with a wince.
"Akira-san, there is nothing wrong with the human body. If you wish, I shall join you." Daidōji replied and offered.
"Excuse me?" Akira then asked.
And then, almost like the manliest of men of opposing ideals ready to beat each other half to death, Daidōji took off her clothing and threw it into the air.
"...How has my life gotten to this point?" Akira thought as he stared at the muscular woman's...muscles and wrapped up bust.
"Kurusu-san." Daidōji called out.
"Huh? What?" Akira eventually responded as he gave his head a quick shake to snap himself out of the daze. "Oh crap!" He soon swore.
"It's fine. That is a very common reaction even while clothed." Daidōji waved off, barely glancing at his crotch. "Now take off your pants." She then got out, sounding almost threatening...which was enough for Akira to start stripping his clothes off.
"HOW DID I GET ROPED INTO THIS!?" Akira exclaimed in a panic while setting down his bag.
"Hm...His physique...that is not one of a student..." Daidōji mentally noted to herself. "...It is similar to Yu-kun's when he was Kurusu-san's age." She then recalled in her head.
"A-Alright." Akira got out, blushing red as he was in nothing but his black boxers. "I really hope this doesn't end up in a disaster..." He mentally begged to himself.
"Good. Now, ten laps." Daidōji ordered before running off.
Akira was instantly stunned by her speed. "And that's her holding back!?" He soon thought in disbelief.
"Kurusu-san, hurry up or it will be fifteen laps!" Daidōji called back and ordered.
"Y-Yes sir! I mean, ma'am! I mean...oh, this is gonna suck..." Akira struggled as he worked to catch up to the new gym teacher.
Soon, the two stopped running once the laps were completed. Daidōji barely looked like she had even used her muscles. "Hm, completed in ten minutes." She noted as the two finished their run. "That has to be a school record, Kurusu-san." She then stated.
Meanwhile, Akira was panting and sweating, having never moved like that outside of the Metaverse. "I...I wanna die..." Akira heaved before collapsing to the ground, unable to move his body.
"Hooo, you're...a lot better than you look." Daidōji meanwhile confessed in an impressed manner.
"Th-Thank you." Akira groaned out as he was then offered an apple and a jar of peanut butter. "Huh?"
"All the other snacks were eaten by the students who actually showed up to the session." Daidōji explained. "You should come to a real session some time. I think I'll hold these sessions over Sundays once summer break is over." She then suggested and informed.
"Ngh...noted." Akira winced out as he broke some of the apple and spread some peanut butter on it. "Ugh, I haven't felt this in a while..." He then admitted.
"What?" Daidōji responded with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing. Um...that was enjoyable." Akira awkwardly responded.
"I ensure that all students have fun here while also maintaining their health." Daidōji replied and stated. "Do not let this school get to you Kurusu-san. I know you are capable of great things." She then advised and encouraged.
"...You're the first adult to ever say that to me." Akira soon confessed.
"They should say it more often." Daidōji stated. "I'm not leaving until you leave, so why don't you have a shower before you leave?" She then informed and suggested.
"Alright." Akira responded with a nod as he struggled over to the showers, grabbing his clothes and bag along the way.
The student teacher then glanced downward. "...He even has Yu-kun's ass..." Daidōji soon noted in an impressed manner.
"Akira, why are you in your underwear?" Morgana questioned, only to get a look from the Leader. "Sorry, I was too busy, um...planning." He then awkwardly apologized.
"Ugh...she's...as intense...as Makoto said...she was..." Akira groaned and panted.
"Um...maybe you should head somewhere to relax for a while after you get showered and dressed." Morgana awkwardly suggested.
"Good idea." Akira sighed as he stripped off his underwear and turned the water on.
(8/10, Evening)
(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)
Today was the day Homura and Asuka decided to take inventory of their equipment for the Metaverse, cleaning their weapons and throwing out anything deemed expired or unusable. While Asuka was out to replace the expired items, Homura stayed behind to do maintenance on the guns. "Goddammit, Ryuji. Handle your shotgun a little better." She grumbled, in the middle of disassembling the gun to find the problem.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Ah, that must be Sis." Homura muttered as she got up from the couch. She unlocked the front door, but quickly stepped away as she was almost hit in the face with it as it suddenly swung open.
"Hello Homura-chan~!" Haruka greeted with a smile and a wave.
"Haruka!?" Homura exclaimed before blinking. "...I don't remember telling you where I live." She then remembered.
"It wasn't that hard." Haruka waved off. "So, are you ready to go?" She soon asked.
"..." Homura looked down to see she was in nothing but a baggy t-shirt and her panties. "Erm, no? Wait, why are you even here?" She soon questioned.
"You didn't come to your medical exam." Haruka reminded with a sweet smile. "The doctor said to come the next day. And that was the 4th. Today is the 10th and late at night."
"Huh? Oh, right. That." the tan skinned girl awkwardly mumbled out, looking somewhat apologetic. "I'm so sorry, there was so much going on and it just slipped my mind. I'll come tomorrow." She soon replied.
"Who said you had a choice?" Haruka however stated.
"What?" Homura got out in confusion to that statement.
Haruka simply held up some duct tape and pulled out a strip.
CRRRRRRFFFFFFT!
(Yongen-Jaya, Takemi's Clinic)
"Hm, Haruka said she'd be back in an hour..." Takemi muttered as she checked the time.
And that's when the blonde entered the clinic, carrying a girl with her arms, legs and mouth wrapped in duct tape over her shoulder.
"I've brought the patient!" Haruka announced.
"MMRPH MMRPH MMRPH MMRPH, MMRPH MMRPH!" Homura screamed through the duct tape wrapped around her mouth. Probably something about revenge and killing the busty doctor in training.
"Now now Homura-chan. There was no need to give me such trouble. The doctor just wanted to give you a quick examination." Haruka reassured.
"MPY MUMPHNUFFIN MEH!?" Homura exclaimed with a twitching eye.
"Put her down, Haruka." Takemi ordered, unable to stop herself from glancing at the girl's tanned ass. "However, let this be a lesson. Always listen to your doctor." She then advised with an amused smirk on her face.
"Yuf twooth arf psycuffs." Homura deadpanned.
"Let me take off the duct tape before we head into the examination room." Haruka soon got out as she pulled out a scalpel.
"Where did you get that?" Takemi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"...You don't have any?" Haruka blinked.
"I'm a GP and pharmacist, not a surgeon." Takemi reminded as she narrowed her eyes. "Haruka, please go outside while I do my check up on the patient. Go have lunch or something."
"Hai, sensei." Haruka responded before giving the scalpel to the doctor and leaving the clinic.
"Alright, don't move." Takemi cautioned as she cut the tape binding Homura's arms and legs before ripping off the duct tape around her mouth.
"A-Aw..." Homura squeaked in pain before groaning. "She didn't even let me get dressed into something decent..." She then grumbled in annoyance.
"It's fine. I have spare pants you can use when you leave. For now, head into there and take off your shirt."
"Of course, sensei." Homura responded as she did as instructed...
BOING!
And let them loose.
"Dear God, does every girl he knows have melons..." Takemi mumbled under her breath.
"Excuse me?" Homura got out with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, sorry. Just talking to myself." Takemi mumbled. "You should know the standard routine for a physical, but I will need a sample of your blood." She then informed.
"No problem." Homura responded with a nod.
With that, Takemi went through the checklist she went through with the other Thieves so far, getting her measurements and getting what she needed to ensure everything was working properly.
"Okay, that's it. You may get dressed." Takemi finally informed before handing the girl a pair of pants.
"Did you find anything wrong?" Homura had to ask as she got dressed.
"Well, you seem to have the same body structure as your roommate, down to the reinforced spine and back muscles. And you don't seem to have Gigantomastia either." Takemi informed before she looked at her notes. "There's also no trace of the poison in your system, and I detect no long-lasting issues. You have a clean bill of health, Homura-san." She then stated.
"Of course I do." Homura got out with a smug expression. "So, is that all?"
"There is something I'd like to ask about..." Takemi began as she went through her clipboard.
"Go ahead, but do you mind keeping it short? I was in the middle of something before I was rudely kidnapped!" Homura requested, shouting loud enough for the blonde to hear, who only giggled in amusement as a response. "Oh don't you start laughing Haruka!" She then demanded in annoyance with a twitching eye.
"Haruka, are you eavesdropping on a confidential appointment again?" Takemi soon got out, furrowing her brows.
"..." Soon, the blonde did not respond.
"That's what I thought." Takemi muttered before returning her attention to the tan skinned girl. "Now, onto what I wanted to ask..." She then started.
"Go ahead." Homura responded in a nonchalant manner.
"Well, I've noticed a few strange scars on your body." Takemi soon informed.
"Which ones?" Homura got out in slight amusement.
"The butt, the hip, and the one below your right breast." Takemi listed off. "They're quite jagged, yet they healed quite nicely." She then informed and stated.
"Oh, those. Yeah, that was from my old school involving plants." Homura answered. "How Haruka managed to make fucking flowers horny that one time is beyond me..." She then muttered with a sweatdrop.
"...What was that?" Takemi questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Nothing!" Homura yelped. "A-Anyways, is that it?" She soon asked.
"Well, there's no point in keeping you here. You're free to go." Takemi muttered. "Have a good night, okay?" She then requested.
"You too, Takemi-sensei." Homura responded as she stood up and stretched her limbs. "Well, that wasn't all that bad." She soon confessed.
"...Bad?" Takemi repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. I mean, from the way you look and what the others say about you, I'd thought you'd be all cranky and stuff." Homura then admitted.
"...What." Tae got out, her eye twitching.
"You look so young for a 45 year old. I guess the goth movement never died if you're still around, huh." The tan skinned girl then remarked.
SHATTER!
"...Did I say something wrong?" Homura soon asked in concern and confusion.
"Please leave." Takemi bluntly requested, her clipboard just about ready to be snapped over the stupid girl's head.
"Okay, um, sorry." Homura responded before heading for the door.
"...I cannot take any more of this mental damage..." Takemi thought as her eye twitched while watching the girl leave the clinic.
"There there." Haruka reassured as she placed a hand on the doctor's shoulder.
"...When did you come in?" The doctor soon questioned.
Haruka soon began to sweat. "...Oh. Erm..." She awkwardly got out.
"Just get back to work." Takemi ordered through gritted teeth. Her assistant simply bowed before heading into the backroom.
(8/11, Early Morning)
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc)
"Slow day today." Akira muttered as he slung a towel over his shoulder. Sojiro had left him in charge of the cafe for a few hours while he took care of Futaba. "Barely anyone here this morning." He then added.
RING!
The shopkeeper's bell suddenly rang, signaling that someone was entering the cafe.
Akira turned and saw a familiar long blonde haired girl carrying a brown paper bag. "Yomi-san?" He got out with a raised eyebrow.
"The beansprout lover?" Morgana responded with a raised eyebrow as well.
Said blonde in response gave off a pleasant smile. "Hello, Akira-san. Sorry for intruding." Yomi greeted and apologized before noticing the cat. "Ah, good day Morgana." She then added to the greeting as she bent down and began petting him.
BANG!
Immediately, Morgana blushed and instinctively started purring. "So goooood~" He purred out in satisfaction.
"And why do I have the pleasure of meeting you here today?" Akira asked as he leaned against the counter.
"I simply wanted to add something to the menu here." Yomi answered as she held the bag up.
"Um, you'd have to speak with the actual owner." Akira pointed out. "We're already pushing it with coffee, sushi and curry. Maybe beansprouts would be too much." He then stated.
"There is nothing wrong with adding beansprouts to anything." Yomi insisted with a pout.
"Yomi-san..." Akira sighed out.
"And I'll prove it! Tell me where he is." Yomi declared and requested.
Akira, while always willing to help a friend, had limits on what he was willing to do. And he was not willing to piss off his guardian. "He's out right now. Look, we can cook beansprouts later. I'm kinda on the clock right now." He soon informed.
"That...That's not really possible." Yomi hesitantly responded and revealed.
"Hm?" Akira hummed out in confusion with a raised eyebrow before seeing her luggage by the door. "I see. You're leaving today?" He soon guessed.
"In a few hours actually." Yomi corrected in disappointment. "I thought we could spend some more time together before I leave." She then explained in a more meek manner.
Akira immediately nodded to that in an understanding manner. "That's fine." He responded. "So, what will you be having?"
"Beansprout curry!" Yomi happily requested as she raised the paper bag into the air.
"And I just finished cleaning the dishes..." Akira muttered with a sweatdrop.
RING RING RING!
"Oh, hey Yusuke." Akira greeted. "What are you doing here?" He soon asked.
"Eh?" Yomi got out as she noticed the blue-haired artist.
"Just need something to satisfy my appetite." Yusuke responded. "Along with a delectable cup of coffee, if you don't mind." He then added.
"You couldn't afford food today." Akira deadpanned before sighing and shaking his head. "I'll get the pot ready..." He then muttered as he went to the kitchen.
At that moment, the blue haired blue noticed the blonde. "Hm? Who is this?" Yusuke soon asked.
"Oh, me? Excuse me. I'm just visiting here as a customer." Yomi got out and revealed.
"Hm. I see. Well I hope you don't mind me." Yusuke replied. "I'd like to have some breakfast this morning, and I had a craving for something a little spicy today." He then requested.
"Well, it won't be on-the-house unlike all the other times." Akira stated. "Can't bleed Sojiro dry after all, so what will you be having today?" He then added and asked.
"..." Yusuke didn't say anything, however, as his eyes automatically drifted down to her chest.
"Um, I would appreciate it if you don't stare at my chest, young man." Yomi warned as she covered her chest. "Unless you are trying to get yourself into trouble." She then added.
Akira however simply sighed. "He's about the same age as you." He then muttered.
"Ah, my apologies. Looks like my curiosity got the better of me." Yusuke apologized as he bowed down his head lightly. "I promise it won't happen again." He then reassured.
"I clearly don't believe you." Yomi stated right away with narrowed eyes. "From what I know, young guys like you tend to like this kind of thing."
"Should I leave the place then if you feel uncomfortable with my presence?" The blue-haired artist got out.
Yomi paused for a moment. She honestly didn't expect that response from a young male person like him. "Erm, well...um..." She awkwardly got out.
"I see." Yusuke sighed. "Sorry, Akira, but I'm afraid I have to visit again at a later time. Apologies for the inconvenience. And to you too as well, miss." He then got out in a polite manner.
"Yusuke, please don't leave. She's all good." Akira told the artist and assured him as well.
"Hm?" Yusuke hummed out.
"Akira-san, please don't speak for me." Yomi snapped before taking a deep breath. "My apologies, please stay." She then requested.
"No, it's fine. I'll come back later." Yusuke replied, already heading for the door.
RING RING RING!
However, at that moment, the front door opened once again.
"You're back." Akira remarked as the cafe owner walked in.
"I just left my phone in the fridge by accident." Sojiro grumbled as he placed some supplies on the counter. He really was getting old.
"Ah, no wonder it was in there." The glasses-wearing boy muttered as he grabbed the from out of the fridge and handed it over to his guardian. "Here you go." He then added.
"Thanks." Sojiro responded before noticing the newcomer. "Hm?" He hummed out.
"Oh, yes. You must be the owner." Yomi assumed as she approached the man and raised her bag up to his face. "I would like to add beansprouts to the menu." She soon requested.
"Yomi-san..." Akira sighed out while palming his face to hide his amused expression.
"...What." Sojiro responded with a raised eyebrow while resisting the urge to look down.
"As you can see, beansprouts are-" Yomi soon began, however.
"No." Sojiro automatically answered, turning his attention back to ge
"What!? You haven't-" Yomi gasped.
"Kid, did you say anything that made her think she can just change the menu?" Sojiro questioned.
"No...but I did convince you to serve sushi." Akira responded and reminded.
"...Still no." Sojiro deadpanned. "Now escort her out, unless she wants to buy something." He then added.
"Yes, Boss." Akira responded. "Sorry, Yomi-san, but rules are rules." He then apologized.
"I-I see..." Yomi muttered in disappointment before bowing to the man. "I apologize for taking up your time." She then apologized.
"You can make up for it by getting coffee or leaving." Sojiro got out with a sigh. He did not want teenagers running his shop after all.
Yomi nodded before going into her wallet and glancing at the prices. "Erm...I'll leave." She then decided with a grimace.
"Thank you." Sojiro responded as he started to read the newspaper.
"Hold on." Yusuke spoke up, getting everyone's attention before digging into his pockets. "I'll have the house blend. What do you want, miss?" He soon asked the poor girl.
"Yusuke?" Akira got out in surprise.
"If she hasn't tried the coffee here, she is honestly missing out." Yusuke explained. "Leader, do you mind spotting me for the train fare back?" He then whispered to the boy.
"...Here." Akira deadpanned as he pulled out a few yen. At this rate, he's gonna have to dip into Morgana's emergency funds.
"I-I will have the house blend as well." Yomi eventually responded, sitting herself down next to the artist. "Thank you." She then got out in a grateful tone.
"It is not a problem." Yusuke responded with a smile.
Meanwhile, Akira just smiled as he watched his friends interacting with one another before going to make their cups.
Sojiro meanwhile looked at the blonde in a curious manner. "Should I ask how you know her?" He soon asked.
"She's one of Homura's friends who was visiting." Akira vaguely revealed while preparing the coffee. "And she's leaving for home in a couple of hours." He then added.
"Ah." Yusuke got out, knowing well who he was dealing with now. "Well, I hope you enjoyed your time here." He then added.
"I did." Yomi confessed with a nod before turning to the cafe owner. "I apologize again for the sudden suggestion...I just really love beansprouts..." She apologized once more and explained.
"Just don't try and change the menu at every place you go, kid." Sojiro got out. "I need to go, just hold the place down for another hour and then you can go." He then informed and requested.
"Alright. See you later." Akira replied as he poured the coffee. "Okay, two house blends for the lovely lady and her new friend." He then announced, sliding the cups over to the two.
"F-Friends?" Yomi stammered out.
"Why not?" Yusuke got out with a smile before raising his cup. "Cheers." He then added.
"Ch-Cheers!" The frugal blonde responded they tapped their cups together before taking their first sips. Yomi's eyes soon widened in awe as soon as the coffee passed her lips. "It's...so good..." She breathed out in amazement.
"So, another satisfied customer?" Akira jokingly guessed...before noticing tears forming in the girl's eyes. "Are you okay?" He soon asked in concern.
"I-It's so beautiful..." Yomi sniffled, not wanting her tears to ruin such delicate flavors.
"That's...a first." Akira remarked. "Never had someone cry over coffee..." He then admitted.
"Well, I'm glad to see you are enjoying the coffee, Yomi-san." Yusuke responded with a smile.
"H-Hai." Yomi responded with a nod before taking another sip, soon sighing in a satisfied manner. "Deliciousmile~!" She suddenly cooed out in a dazed manner...and in English of all things.
This meanwhile caused the two boys to raise an eyebrow in response. "...I think she likes it." Yusuke simply noted.
"I agree, Yusuke." Akira replied with a nod before deciding to make his own cup, hanging up his apron and enjoying the company of the two before the girl ran out of time and had to leave.
"Thank you again for the coffee Akira-san, Yusuke-san." Yomi responded in a grateful manner as she then hugged the two. "I don't know how to repay you..." She then confessed.
"Your company this morning is payment enough." Yusuke responded.
"Have a safe trip. And kick some ass on the way out." Akira got out before whispering that last part. "Oh, and try to eat more than just beansprouts too." He then suggested while patting the girl's head.
"I don't always eat beansprouts." Yomi got out with a giggle. "But, I will try and eat with a little variety now." She then added in reassurance. "...We'll need great food at Bootyland after all..." She then thought.
"You better hurry. You have a train to catch." Akira replied and reminded.
"Oh right! Bye, you two!" Yomi got out before running to the train station, seeming to be much happier than before.
"She seems like a nice girl." Yusuke confessed.
"I told you that you'd get along with her." Akira remarked.
"Hm?" Yusuke hummed out with a raised eyebrow, but at that moment...
GRRR...
"...Maybe we should continue this conversation inside." The Leader suggested in a flat tone.
"I see no reason to turn you down." Yusuke responded before the two boys headed back into the cafe.
(8/11, Daytime)
(Niijima Residence)
Makoto was alone at home today. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence, and on some days she actually did enjoy being by herself for a while.
And so, she took advantage of the opportunity...by being able to silently freak out in the living room rather than silently freak out in her bedroom.
"What am I going to do? What the hell am I going to do?" Makoto kept repeating to herself in a mutter while pacing back and forth.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"AH!" Makoto yelped before covering her mouth. "C-Coming!" She stammered as she made her way to the door.
Once the door was open, the Student Council President of Shujin Academy was greeted by the Vice Leader. "Hi Makoto-chan!" Asuka happily got out as she closed her umbrella.
"A-Asuka. You didn't say you were coming today." Makoto responded.
Asuka however just grinned. "I just wanted to hang out with you." She simply replied.
"Well, let me get you something to drink. It's still so hot despite all the rain outside." Makoto offered. She was actually a little glad she was here. It would allow her to take her mind off things. "You can go wait inside my room over there." She then added.
"Sure!" Asuka replied with a nod as she came into the apartment.
While Makoto went to the kitchen, Asuka went to her friend's room to relax.
"Wow! I really like your room, Makoto-chan!" Asuka got out.
"T-Thank you." Makoto responded as she then offered a glass. "I hope you like orange juice." She then added.
"Thanks." Asuka replied as she took a sip and sat down on the bedside. "So, what have you been doing so far?"
"Um...studying." Makoto lied.
Asuka however raised an eyebrow to that. "Makoto-chan, you know I'm a shinobi so I know when someone is lying. And you're not a very good liar." She soon stated.
"It's...well..." Makoto hesitantly started before trailing off.
"Don't worry, I won't pry." Asuka assured. "Today is supposed to be a fun day on a Sunday!" She then reminded.
Makoto blinked before checking the date. "Today's Thursday." She corrected.
"I-I know that, it was supposed to rhyme..." Asuka mumbled with a slight blush.
Makoto in response couldn't help but snort in amusement.
"There you go!" Asuka giggled.
Makoto nodded to that. "You really do brighten anyone's day when you're around. No wonder you could get someone like Homura-san as a friend."
"Well, yeah. We are sisters now." Asuka stated. However, she then noticed that the Shujin School Council President seemed to be upset by that. "Are you alright Makoto-chan?" She soon asked in a concerned tone.
"Oh, just..." Makoto mumbled as she rubbed her arm anxiously. "Ever since the Kaneshiro incident, me and my sister haven't been talking all that much." She soon admitted.
"I noticed she wasn't here either." Asuka pointed out. "Prosector's work again?" She then guessed.
"Yes." Makoto responded with a nod. "She's still trying to find out more about the Phantom Thieves, especially with the whole thing with Medjed. God...it feels so...so..." She then sighed out as she trailed off at the end.
"Awful?" Asuka guessed.
"Not the word I would use but...yes." Makoto sighed. "She's essentially trying to arrest me and my friends! Do you know how that feels to be so...so...so close to..." She then reminded and began to ask before trailing off.
"Have you...tried to tell her?" Asuka eventually asked.
"...No, but the temptation...the hope she'd stop..." Makoto mumbled. "I don't know what to do if she ever finds out. For all I know, I could be kicked out or..." She then began rambling.
"Makoto-chan, you need to breathe." Asuka soon got out, interrupting the Advisor's panic attack. "Do you really think that low of your own sister?" She then asked in concern.
"I...I don't..." Makoto hesitantly responded, calming down as a result. "I just...if we screw up...I-I don't know if I'd be able to face her."
"You can." Asuka assured.
"Asuka, the way my sister is these days...she would drag me off to jail herself." Makoto mumbled in a depressed manner.
"You're just making that up." Asuka got out with a frown. "You're worrying yourself over what-ifs and worst case scenarios. Your sister loves you, even if she doesn't show it." She then stated in a comforting tone.
"She called me u-useless and she hasn't even-" Makoto soon began rambing...
SMOOSH!
However at that moment, the Vice Leader brought her friend's head into her bust. "Shhh..." Asuka hushed out. "Makoto-chan, I think you're stressing yourself out over something...and it's not about your sister. Talk to me." She then deducted and requested.
"...It's about Kaneshiro." Makoto relented with a sigh.
"Him!?" Asuka exclaimed before jumping to her feet. "Makoto-chan, do we need to hide you again!?" She soon asked.
"No! No, he's in custody...but he isn't serving time in prison." Makoto assured.
"Huh?" Asuka got out with a raised eyebrow.
Makoto took a deep breath. "I have been asked to...confirm his guilt." The advisor explained.
"Wait, you're going to have to testify against Kaneshiro?" Asuka questioned in shock and concern. "When is that going to happen?" She soon asked.
"T-Tonight." Makoto responded. "It'll be over a call. I won't even get to see him." She then revealed.
"It's been a while since we took him down though..." Asuka soon admitted.
"The investigation took a while to go through just from the amount of evidence there was." Makoto revealed. "The trial is just going to be for what he's charged with rather than determining his guilt." She then explained.
"So what do you plan to tell them?" Asuka soon asked in concern.
"Everything, barring the Metaverse, of course." Makoto responded.
"Even...his involvement with your..." Asuka hesitantly began before trailing off.
"Yes." Makoto nodded, not looking all that happy. "He did tell me." She then mumbled under her breath.
"Are you going to be okay?" Asuka soon asked in concern.
"Asuka, that time may not have been the proudest point of my life, but if it means ensuring justice is served, I will gladly dive back into those memories to squeeze out every year he spends rotting in prison." Makoto declared.
"You've talked to the lawyer and told the story before, right?" Asuka soon asked.
"Yes." Makoto replied with a nod.
BZZT! BZZT!
"You better get that." Asuka soon suggested as she let the advisor go, who in response nodded, pulled out her phone, and answered it.
"Niijima-san, it's time." The voice from the phone informed. Makoto instantly recognised the voice.
It was the prosecutor in charge of Kaneshiro's case.
"W-What!? The trial is now!?" Makoto stammered in shock, causing the Vice Leader's eyes to widen.
"Didn't I say that the trial was at this time?" The lawyer reminded.
"O-Oh, I mean...You did...I just..." Makoto stammered as she began to sweat profusely.
"I worked hard to give you special consideration for this case, given the circumstances surrounding the situation." The prosecutor stated, the audible frown in his tone. "However, you will need to show up tomorrow to court to ensure everything is fine. I am trusting you on this to ensure justice is served here today." He then added.
"...Of course, sir." Makoto soon responded.
"Now, you have requested for your identity to remain a secret, is that correct?" The lawyer, the prosecutor of the case, asked.
"Yes." Makoto replied. "If anything, the only thing they need to know is that I go to high school." She then added.
"Don't worry, your voice will be filtered to hide your identity." The prosecutor assured. "Are you alone?" He soon questioned.
"...I am." Makoto responded, motioning the Vice Leader to stay silent.
Asuka responded with a thumbs-up and covered her mouth.
"Good. Please remember that all methods of recording are illegal, and releasing such information to the public is grounds for punishment, going from fines to prison time. Do you understand?" The prosecutor then warned.
"Yes." Makoto responded once more.
"Good. We will broadcast your call shortly. Please remain silent until spoken to." The prosecutor soon stated before muting the call.
"Remember, only answer the questions. Don't elaborate." Asuka quietly warned.
"Hai, hai." Makoto responded with a nod. The lawyer had told her this already, but it was a nice reminder. She'll believe in the Makoto that Asuka believed in right now.
As it turned out though, shortly meant two hours of listening to stuff they already know and deliberating the evidence. Even without any visual aid, they knew that there was a lot less finger pointing and screaming and more...legal crap.
"I call to the witness stand a victim of Kaneshiro's crimes!" The prosecutor suddenly declared, snapping the two out of their boredom.
"Break his legs out there, Makoto-chan." Asuka thought, imagining her friend walking onto the stand with the same expression she had on her face now.
"Now, I've been informed before the trial that the witness would like to remain anonymous, is that correct?" The judge asked in a curious manner.
"Yes, your Honor. The only information they are willing to divulge is that they attend a high school in the Shibuya area." The prosecutor answered.
"Defense, do you agree with this?"
"I doubt their identity would play into the case. Only what they know." The defense lawyer, with his oddly grating voice, responded.
"Then you shall remain anonymous, witness." The judge concluded. "Please make your statement."
"Okay..." Makoto got out with a nod. "A few months prior, Junya Kaneshiro had been causing trouble at my school. I've been hearing rumors that a few students had been caught up in Kaneshiro's drug smuggling ring. Looking into it, I discovered that it was the case. He was tricking students into taking a part-time job delivering letters and paying them a generous amount. He then blackmailed these students into paying it back with interest. However, with his identity hidden, there wasn't much I could do at the time. Eventually, I got caught up as well and...well, if it wasn't for him confessing, I wouldn't be here today." She then explained.
"Interesting. Defense, you may begin your cross-examination." The judge ordered.
"How exactly had you encountered Junya Kaneshiro?" The defense asked.
Makoto took in a deep breath and closed her eyes."It was on June 20th. I've been hearing rumors of his existence for a while, and with no discernable progress toward his arrest. Matters then seemed to only get worse as time went on as more and more fell victim to his scams. Eventually, I had fallen victim too. I was taken to a cabaret club in Shibuya and threatened." She soon began.
"Hm...that's odd. Because according to a statement from one of Kanshiro-san's accomplices, you walked up to them and demanded you see him, calling him by name."
"Ack!" Makoto choked.
"And I doubt a teenager would have the resources to figure out who Kaneshiro is, especially when even the police couldn't even dig up anything. That is, unless they paid someone to investigate."
The Shujin Student Council President was about to counter, but was stopped by the Vice Leader grabbing her shoulder. "Makoto-chan, you can stay silent. Exercise your rights." Asuka whispered.
The Advisor in response nodded as she took in a breath. "I exercise my right to remain silent." Makoto soon responded.
"Overruled." The judge responded with the bang of his gavel. "Please disclose what really happened, witness."
"Shit." Makoto and Asuka mentally swore.
Makoto soon sighed as she once more took in a deep breath. "Understood." She responded. "The previous statement is true. However I was under duress when speaking with the accused's accomplices." She soon revealed.
"Duress, you say?" The defense repeated.
"Yes, I...I was threatened to find Kaneshiro." Makoto explained.
"Threatened?" The defense lawyer repeated. "Who threatened you into chasing after a criminal?"
"...My principal." Makoto eventually responded, getting a thumbs up, but also a serious expression from the Vice Leader.
"Your...school principal." The defense lawyer repeated once again.
"Yes."
"Under threat of what exactly?" The judge had to ask.
"...Denial of a letter of recommendation and possibly expulsion." Makoto hesitantly answered with some shame in her voice.
"...So you're telling me your principal forced you to go after a dangerous criminal in charge of an organized crime group...or else you would be expelled." The defense lawyer repeated in disbelief.
"Yes." Makoto nodded.
"...What the fuck!?" The defense lawyer got out.
The two in the apartment almost facefaulted upon hearing that, briefly destroying all the tension as a result.
"Defense, please refrain from such language." The judge ordered. "You may continue your cross-examination." He then instructed.
"Y-Yes, your Honor." The defense lawyer cleared his throat. "...Did you get any resources from your principal?" He then questioned.
"No. Absolutely not." Makoto instantly answered. "He had only instructed me to do as requested without fail."
"Then how did you find Kaneshiro?" The defense lawyer soon asked.
"It was...logical, given the information I had at the time." Makoto hesitantly responded. "They were operating in the Shibuya area focusing mainly on high schoolers, so I assumed that it would be in areas students would hang out at. Plus, given the police are more alert at night, it would only make sense to do it during the day right under their noses. And finding his name only required a little digging into public records." She then began to explain. She felt a little bad that she had to take credit for the others' efforts, but there was just no way around it if she wanted to make it convincing.
"And you didn't go to the police?" The defense lawyer questioned.
"A...friend of mine had trouble with the police, so I didn't feel safe reporting it to the authorities." Makoto answered, shaking her head.
"You can do this, Makoto-chan!" Asuka silently encouraged. "Go for the killing blow...and by that, I mean infinite jail time!" She then added.
Johanna revved within her mind.
The defense lawyer soon took a deep breath before continuing. "So, you were taken to the club after demanding to meet the man." He clarified.
"That is correct." Makoto responded. "I was forced into a car and taken to the club before being forced down to the ground with my arms restrained." She then revealed.
"I see." The defense lawyer got out. "At 5:46 PM, the power to the cabaret club was cut. Then there were gunshots. By the time the lights came back on, you were suddenly gone and multiple people were injured. The only ones injured were the accused's accomplices, leaving them with large bruises and broken bones. Can you explain that?" He soon pressed.
The Vice Leader meanwhile began sweating after hearing that.
"I..." Makoto began to turn her gaze over to the Vice Leader, who could only shrug. However, it did give her an idea. "It was the Phantom Thieves." She eventually answered, causing the other girl's jaw to drop slightly.
There were gasps.
"The Phantom Thieves?" The defense gasped.
"The ones that...stole Kaneshiro's heart?" The prosecutor assumed in disbelief.
"The very same. They...They saved my life." Makoto hesitantly responded.
"Are you claiming to have been saved by the Phantom Thieves?" The defense questioned.
"...Yes." Makoto soon responded.
"Any physical details?"
"No, it was still dark out and they were wearing masks."
"And the money?"
"Money?" Makoto repeated with a raised eyebrow.
"Junya Kaneshiro had in his possession a case full of money, coming to around 30 million yen." The defense claimed. "Did you happen to see what happened to the case?" He then questioned.
"Not at all. I was unaware of this information." Makoto responded, while mentally hoping that the victims were spending that money wisely.
Stupid...fake...Kaneshiro money...
"Very well. I have no further questions for the witness." The defense relented.
"Closing statements?" The judge soon asked.
"No, sir. The accused has already done enough. This last witness was just to ensure proper justice is served." The prosecutor replied.
"Defense?"
"No...I knew where this was going from the start." The defense admitted.
"Hm, you seem to have grown from the last time I've seen you Auchi-san." The judge noted. "Well, I see there is no need to beat around the bush any longer. I hereby sentence Junya Kaneshiro to a maximum of 80 years in prison for his crimes without parole." He then declared before banging his gavel.
The only thing they heard from Kaneshiro (which made them realize he was there the entire time) was his sobs before the trial officially ended.
"I would like to thank you for your attendance here today, Niijima-san." The prosecutor soon got out when things got a lot quieter.
"You're welcome, Mitsurugi-san." Makoto responded.
"Remember, come at 8AM sharp." The prosecutor reminded.
"I will. Goodbye." Makoto replied with a nod.
"Goodbye."
Soon, the two sighed after the call ended.
"You did really well, Makoto-chan!" Asuka praised with a grin.
"Thank you, but if it wasn't for your support, the call would've gone much more differently." Makoto responded. "Actually, given his crimes, I was afraid he'd get the death penalty." She then stated.
"We're not letting him get away that easily. Death is the easy way out." Asuka stated. "And good job outing the principal as well, there's no way he's going to be able to make excuses for this." She then added to the praise.
"I didn't say anything that would out his identity though." Makoto got out with a frown. "And I doubt the prosecutor would pursue the case. But it did feel good to admit that to the public. Maybe they'll do some digging on Kobayakawa themselves."
"..." Asuka in response blinked with a blank look on her face before it finally clicked. "...Oh, that's his name. I...I honestly forgot what it was." She then admitted.
"Would you like it if I forget his name too?" Makoto jokingly offered.
"...Kinda." Asuka soon admitted.
"Okay. Hopefully by the end of this year, Principal...Principal...Fatcakes will have his desserts." Makoto stated, pausing for a moment to think of an insulting nickname for the man.
"Thank you. But I think we've used Fatcakes before for Principal Gastric Fartpass." Asuka replied with a nod. "Maybe we could try and find his keyword again." She then suggested as she took out her phone.
"Asuka-san, I've tried. I've gone through every word I could think of, but there's still no result." Makoto however informed and stated. "He's already paying for his crimes in other ways, and it's not like he can weasel out of the consequences. I think we're better off giving up on him for now and finding someone who can." She then declared.
"Awww~" Asuka whined for a moment before pouting. "...I don't like it though...but it's not like we can help it..." She soon sighed out.
"Anyways, enough with all these heavy topics. Let's enjoy ourselves while we wait for the rain to die down." Makoto replied and suggested.
"Alright." Asuka nodded to that.
"Maybe one day my relationship with my sister will be like yours with Homura-san." Makoto eventually sighed.
"I'm sure it will be." Asuka reassured while placing a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I doubt it. You're closer to Homura-san after a few weeks than I am after a lifetime." Makoto countered as she sighed once more. "It's no surprise Homura got adopted." She then added.
"Yeah, that's-" Asuka began before pausing and blinking. "...We didn't tell you that yet." She then pointed out.
"Ryuji outed you guys a few days ago in a private chat." Makoto informed. "Congratulations, by the way." She then added with a smile.
"Hehe, that's Ryuji for you." Asuka jokingly reminded. "Oh, I'm sure Homu-neechan will be upset though..." She then muttered.
"Oh I bet she will." Makoto got out before looking out the window. "It's still raining outside, so what do you want to do now?" She soon asked.
"I just want to relax." Asuka replied with a sigh. "Do you have any snacks?" She then asked.
"I'm sure we bought some protein bars on our last grocery run. Let me go check." Makoto replied as she went to the kitchen.
As time went on, Asuka felt as though her Leadership and Knowledge were improving as a result.
"Oh yes Asuka-san, did you finish your summer homework?" Makoto soon asked while bringing in the snacks.
"..." Asuka in response blinked a couple of times as she slowly paled.
Makoto sighed. "Let's work on it tomorrow after I perform my duties, okay?" She soon decided.
"Hai, Queen." Asuka replied with a nod of understanding. "Actually, I think I might have an idea for a Showtime Attack if you're interested!" She soon confessed.
That in turn got Makoto's attention and curiosity. "Oh?" She responded with a tilt of her head. "What do you have in mind?" She then asked.
Asuka in response grinned as she spent the rest of the time hanging out with her friend telling about their attack idea.
(8/11, Evening)
(Rooftop)
Yumi was standing at the corner of the building as she looked out upon the city at night, the wind blowing as she did so.
WHOOSH!
Yumi soon smiled as she didn't even turn her body. "You have arrived, Homura-san." She stated, soon turning around to see her friend in a kneeling position.
"Of course, Yumi-senpai." Homura responded, raising her head to look at her friend. "So, ready to go?"
"I have been since I got here." Yumi responded, jumping down from the edge before walking over to her friend while taking her hand.
"Shinobi Kekkai." The two soon announced as one as they vanished in an instant.
(Homura and Yumi's Dual Shinobi Kekkai)
Soon, the duo arrived in the red and blue snowfield with the shining sun above them.
"Here again." The two breathed out with gentle and relaxed smiles on their faces. Even though they had only been in there a couple of times so far, it felt really homely to the two.
"Shinobi Tenshin!" The two then declared, their clothes glowing and vanishing before being replaced with their identical attires.
"How have you been doing lately?" Yumi soon asked as the two began to walk side by side.
"Um, I am well." Homura answered with a nod.
"No, how have you been going with your training?" Yumi corrected and asked once more.
"Oh, with everyone." Homura realized. "Well, me and my sessions with Ann have been going fine. I haven't trained with Makoto though regarding Maturity..." She then informed and revealed before trailing off at the end.
"I see. And what have you gotten out of these sessions so far?" Yumi soon questioned.
"Well, I am hoping to improve myself as a person in the end." Homura confessed. "Before coming to Tokyo, I was a complete bitch with an unhealthy lust for battle to where I was essentially looking for my own spot to die and many trust issues with people, even towards my fellow Elites..." She shamefully added with a sigh.
"You honestly did." Wolverine remarked in agreement.
"And my own childhood prior to Hebijo didn't make things any better." Homura soon reminded.
"And now?" Yumi questioned in a curious manner.
"That person before...is dying." Homura responded in a confident manner.
Yumi however shook her head in response. "I wouldn't say that." She replied. "I can still see it in your eyes, Homura-san. It's still there." She then reassured.
"Then help me kill it." Homura soon requested in a serious tone, surprising her friend. "Isn't that why I'm here? That person who I was before is everything that I am ashamed of now!" She then questioned and stated in a no nonsense tone.
"You hate this person." Yumi concluded.
"Yes." Homura responded with a nod.
"Homura-san...I would like to remind you that person is you." Yumi reminded. "...Actually, no, I won't tell you why I think this is wrong." She soon decided.
"H-Huh?" Homura got out in confusion.
"There are some lessons you can only learn by yourself." Yumi soon stated.
"B-But you're my teacher here!" Homura reminded.
"But I'm also your friend." Yumi however corrected. "Isn't that why I'm here in the first place?" She soon asked.
"...And friends accept each other, no matter their flaws." Homura mumbled.
"But only if it doesn't hurt others." Yumi soon stated. "And tell me, what flaws haven't hurt anyone?" She then questioned.
"...Everything other than being a total fucking bitch." Homura muttered in concern. "...Sorry for swearing..." She then mumbled out in shame.
"No, it's okay." Yumi responded as she shook her head.
Soon, the light gray haired girl hugged the tan skinned girl in a tender embrace.
"S-Senpai?" Homura got out in confusion.
"I understand wanting to transform into someone else if it means maintaining your relationships. But we wouldn't be friends in the first place if I didn't like the person here in the first place." The info broker then stated in a comforting tone.
"You...don't want me to change who I mean...you want me to accept it..." Homura breathed out in realization.
"I don't want you to die underneath all that you try to get rid of." Yumi mumbled. "You shouldn't be trying to eliminate your usual self, but embrace it." She then explained.
"...But what if I just...fall back into-" Homura began in a concerned manner, however...
"Then we'll be there. Homura, you are not alone." Yumi assured, interrupting her friend.
Homura felt as though her Knowledge and Elegance improved as she took in this information while taking those words to heart.
Yumi soon ended the hug and took a few steps back and got her fans out. "Now then Homura," She started as she gave her gentle smile. "Shall we dance?" She soon asked.
"...Like, battle dance or..." Homura began
"Just dancing in an elegant and graceful manner." Yumi answered.
Homura in response nodded as she made her own fans appear from some flames. "Ok." She replied with a gentle smile of her own.
And with that, they danced the night away, fire and ice dancing alongside them all the while.
(Hebijo Academy, Elites Room)
"The AK is an amazing weapon for those who have no idea how to maintain weapons. Doesn't matter if it's got oil in it, it doesn't matter if it's clean, it will just work." Mirai ranted as she and the greenette walked into the living room. "But, that's not exactly accurate. Just because it has loose tolerances doesn't mean that dirt can just go into it. No, because it has loose tolerances, it means dirt gets into it which causes the gun to stop working. Guns aren't just a thing you point with and shoot! It's a complicated piece of machinery that if you don't treat respect, you are going to shoot your crotch out your ass." She continued rambling.
"Mirai, I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about." Hikage bluntly confessed.
"Hey, you were the one who asked me about guns in the first place." Mirai reminded as she rolled her eye.
"No, I asked you about-" Hikage began to correct, however...
BOOM!
"...What was that?" Mirai deadpanned.
"It was coming from the kitchen..." Hikage muttered before the two started making their way there.
The blonde of the Crimson Squad had recently returned, but the two had noticed that something seemed...off about the beansprout loving girl.
Primarily, that there were no signs of beansprouts anywhere.
"Think something happened with her and Akira-nii?" Mirai whispered in a curious manner.
"I would be more surprised if he didn't do anything." Hikage nonchalantly admitted. "Yomi, what are you doing?" She soon asked.
"What does it look like?" Yomi questioned with a raised eyebrow, a black sludge dripping off her spatula.
"Itlooks like something is on fire in the fridge." Mirai answered as she stared at the blackening appliance while the snake-like girl went to grab the fire extinguisher. "...Was that the explosion from earlier?" She then assumed.
"Just a...small mishap." Yomi responded with a sweet smile.
"Stand clear." Hikage dully got out as she opened the fridge and...
HHHHIIIISSSSSSSSSSS!
With that small problem out of the way, the greenette focused on the meal the blonde was making. "Yomi...are you trying to cook something other than beansprouts?" Hikage questioned, trying to process what she just said.
"Yes." Yomi replied with a nod.
"You're just heating noodles in a pan." Mirai pointed out.
"And eggs." Yomi added before checking the doneness of her food. "Ah! It should all be done!" She then got out as she brought out a bowl.
"So you finally realized there are other foods other than beansprouts?" Hikage soon guessed with a hand on her hip.
"I don't eat beansprouts all the time." Yomi denied with a huff. "Only most of the time. I want to expand my palate a little after experiencing heaven in a cup." She then revealed before sighing in a delighted manner.
"...What is she talking about?" Mirai cautiously asked.
"I don't know, but I bet it has to do with Akira..." Hikage assumed.
"And so, I shall lay off the beansprouts and explore what tastes the world has to offer." Yomi concluded as she dumped her sauces into the pan.
"Are you going to steal my clothes?" Hikage suddenly asked.
"Nope." Yomi responded, surprising the two. "I see now that only the idle rich must pay for their crimes, spending it on nothing but their own selfish desires. No...this calls for a revolution!" She then suddenly declared.
"...What?" Hikage bluntly asked.
"Don't you see? This world is only like this because the people who run it do it all for the pursuit of profit and luxury!" Yomi soon explained. "We must follow in the steps of the Phantom Thieves and rob them of their desires...and by that, I mean money!" She then added to the explanation.
"Oh no..." Mirai mentally groaned.
"So join me! Once we escape the clutches of Hebijo, we shall go and reduce these multi-billionaires into nothing but middle-class civilians, no matter the cost!" Yomi soon declared in a passionate manner. "They will no longer be able to afford private jets and butlers! Now they must pay for ONLY BEANSPROUTS!" She then added to the declaration before cackling madly, the sounds of thunder rumbling the school.
"..." The two soon looked at the blonde in disbelief.
"What the hell did you and Akira-nii do?" Mirai soon asked.
"Give me the words I need to hear." Yomi innocently responded.
"...I think Akira-nii created a new problem to replace the old problem." Mirai soon whispered.
"As long as she stops robbing us." Hikage muttered. "...Although, I think we're gonna have to rob other people..." She then added before thinking.
"So, are you two in?" Yomi soon asked.
"I don't know..." Mirai mumbled as she scratched her head.
"Wouldn't those rich people hire shinobi to protect them? We may be Elites, but that doesn't mean we're better than every shinobi in the country." Hikage soon pointed out. "Plus, their money isn't physical. It's probably all invested in their businesses and banks. They're not going to leave all their money in vaults, and if we decide to take their stuff, it's probably insured. It's not like people regularly carry millions of yen in their wallet." She then added as she rolled her eyes.
(Yongen-Jaya, Leblanc)
"ACHOO!" Akira sneezed.
"Are you okay?" Kawa-ahem-Becky asked in concern.
"It's fine, Becky. I think someone was talking about me." Akira waved off.
"Ugh, you kids and your anime tropes..." Becky remarked as she rolled her eyes before turning her focus back to the curry.
(Hebijo Academy, Elites Room)
"..." Yomi blinked as she processed the information.
"Yomi, this isn't the age of Robin Hood." Hikage concluded.
"I'll figure something out..." Yomi grumbled as she sat herself down, did a quick pray and then dug into her carefully prepared-
She stopped, her expression frozen in a blank stare.
"...Yomi?" Hikage called out in confusion.
"I've made a horrible mist- ACK!" Yomi then began gagging, punching her stomach to get the food out.
"Yomi-oneechan!?" Mirai exclaimed in concern.
Hikage sighed before helping the girl throw up into a nearby bin.
"I...I don't think I'm a very good cook..." Yomi got out in a saddened tone with shame.
"What did you cook with exactly?" Hikage asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Uh...ketchup, hot sauce, cheese, olives, eggs, ketchup, avocado, tomato soup, spaghetti and lo mein noodles." Yomi listed off as it became more and more apparent to the others that it was just whatever was in the fridge today. "...Maybe some beansprouts would've been good here..." She then mumbled.
"I think half of that was expired." Hikage deadpanned, looking at the containers of some of the ingredients used.
"W-Why waste the food?" Yomi coughed. "Less fortunate people would kill for such delicacies."
"God, just from the ingredients, I'm half certain you were attempting to make some sort of...Mystery Food X." Mirai got out with a sweatdrop as she looked at the remaining food in mention...while it was emitting a purple miasma. "Uh...is it...moving?" She then asked in concern.
"Maybe you should get your eye checked." Hikage suggested. "Unless it's some leftover experiment of Haruka's there's-" She then began, but at that moment...
"Death to all humans!" Mystery Food X suddenly declared, jumping out of the bowl with its noodles in the air. "RAWR!" It then roared as it flew at the three, however...
STAB! BANG BANG BANG!
Mirai, Yomi, and Hikage stared at the now-dead abomination after being shot and stabbed.
"...Anyways, burn that. I'll make you a real meal." Hikage causally ordered and offered as she pulled her knife out of its body.
"I-I'll leave the cooking to you then." Yomi sheepishly responded with a nod.
"As usual." Hikage muttered before going to the fridge to make something edible.
"Erm, why don't you go and meet with the twins now, Yomi-oneechan?" Mirai soon got out as she grabbed the blonde's hand.
"Twins?" Yomi repeated with a tilt of her head.
"Ryōbi's entertaining Poochie while Ryōna's..." Mirai began, double-tapping the bubbling abomination just in case, however...
"There you go, bitch!" They suddenly heard the sadist laugh. "You like that!?" She then taunted.
"PLEASE BITE ME~!" A pleasured cry echoed around the place, possibly outside where the lower-ranked students could hear.
"ARF!" A familiar dog barked out.
"...What?" Yomi got out in confusion.
"L-Let me go check." Mirai replied, pushing down a groan as she went to the first year blonde's room and- "Oh what the fuck." She bluntly asked.
Ryōbi and Poochie paused in the middle of tying a nearly nude and excited Ryōna to the wooden table and stared at the eyepatch wearing girl. "...Let's be honest, this probably won't be the worst thing you see from this room alone." The brunette deadpanned as she then began to prepare some hot wax.
"Noted." Mirai responded with a sweatdrop.
"Hm? What was that?" Yomi got out in confusion as she went to go see, only for loli to stop her.
"Actually, let's introduce you to them tomorrow." Mirai squeaked while shoving the blonde back to the kitchen. "Poochie-chan, come here!" She then called out followed by a whistle.
"Arf!" Poochie responded before giving the masochist a lick across the nose and following the loli outside.
"The puppy is way too cute and too smart." Ryōbi muttered in an impressed tone.
"She's being raised by us~ Of course she would~" Ryōna responded and reminded with a cat-like smile. "Now, where were we~?" She then asked in growing excitement.
"Alright, you want more melted wax burning, the clamps or the car battery?" The brunette soon asked while rolling her eyes.
"You know my answer." Her twin responded with a grin.
"All of the above it is!" Ryōbi declared before slamming the car battery on her sister's stomach.
BZZZZZZZZT!
"AAHHNNN~!"
"...That room seriously needs soundproofing." Hikage thought as she cooked a meal while the blonde watched on in awe while taking notes.
Unbeknownst to any of them, a purple haired girl was peeking from the shadows. "Akira..." She quietly muttered to herself.
(8/12, Daytime)
(Shibuya, Central Street)
Akira had received a message from the white haired woman this morning telling him to come. He already knew what was going to happen so he made sure that his Personas and equipment were up-to-date and ready for anything.
"Yo, Akira." Miyabi greeted. "Ready for another fight?" She then questioned.
"Whenever you're ready." Akira responded...right before noticing his significantly lighter bag. Looks like Morgana didn't want to fight today and ran. He couldn't blame him.
"Alright." Miyabi pumped her fist. "However, there's going to be a few changes from here on out. It's only going to get tougher from here on." She then stated.
"I assume so." Akira muttered, pushing down the whimper. "So, who's going to be joining us?" He soon asked.
"Let me just give them a call..." Miyabi then got out as she pulled out her phone.
A few minutes later...
"...Where the hell are they?" Miyabi grumbled as she tapped her foot. "They should be here by-" She then started, however...
"Miyabi-chan!" Asuka called out as she and the other shinobi girls appeared in the alleyway. "S-Sorry we're late! I was doing my homework." She apologized and explained.
"And we uh...we danced a little too much last night." Homura sheepishly and quietly admitted while the info broker blushed.
"Come on, you're supposed to be the best of the best of the best here. Be punctual." Miyabi sighed out.
"The best of the...what?" The three other shinobi girls got out in unison confusion.
"Nevermind." Miyabi decided.
"What's this emergency about, Miyabi-san?" Yumi soon questioned.
"Emergency...?" Akira deadpanned before turning his gaze towards the woman.
"Well, they wouldn't come otherwise." Miyabi stated as the other shinobi gave her flat stares.
"...So there's no cat giving birth that we need to deliver to a veterinarian?" Homura soon asked.
"Eh, it's over there but that's not why you're here." Miyabi replied as she waved it off.
"MEOW!" A cat mewled.
"U-Um, maybe we should..." Asuka began in concern as the others started to shift on their feet.
"...Ugh, fine. Let's go watch the miracle of life or whatever first." Miyabi relented as she rolled her eyes.
"Thank you." Yumi responded as they all went over to see the cat giving birth.
"Aw~" The girls all instinctively cooed out.
"The fur is dirty-feeling...no collar..." Akira meanwhile noted. "Yeah, we can't let these little guys stay here. Let me go search up somewhere they can be safe." He then stated.
"There's a cat cafe in Harajuku that accepts strays. That won't take long." Homura informed.
"Alright, let's go there before we do Miyabi-san's request." Yumi responded with a nod.
"...Fine." Miyabi sighed out. "...For the kitties..." She then mumbled.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
"...Y-You kind of forgot..." Akira began speaking to the air they formerly inhabited before sighing. "One of these days I'll pull that off on them." He then muttered.
Then, not even a minute later, the shinobis returned. "Alright, with that out of the way, why did you call us here?"
"For a fight." Miyabi answered with a smirk.
"What?" Yumi got out with widened eyes.
"This fight is going to be Joker and Widow versus me, Yang and Yin." Miyabi announced.
"Two against three..." Yumi quietly noted with a frown.
"Huh!? What did I say about being a team? I don't want us to fight each other!" Asuka called out.
"Didn't you and Homura nearly kill each other at the start of the year?" Miyabi countered. "Plus, this is just a friendly sparring match to help Joker and I improve. That's all." She then revealed.
"Are you using this as an excuse to beat us up?" Yumi sighed out.
"...No." Miyabi soon informed. "I won't say I'm not excited though..." She then confessed.
"But Akira-kun naturally has an advantage over us! That's not fair!" Asuka complained.
"Don't worry, I'm gonna add a condition this time." Miyabi however stated. "Joker and Widow can only use spells. No physical attacks or shooting your guns. If they run out of SP, they lose automatically. Deal?" She soon revealed.
"Ugh, making me fight my natural weakness..." Homura groaned before sighing. "Alright, fine. At least we can use all our skills. Besides, I doubt that'll be enough of a handicap to stop them frp, showing their best." She then added.
"Huh, it sounds like you're looking forward to this." Akira remarked.
"Hey, any opportunity to test my strength is an opportunity I'll always take. Plus, it gives me the chance to kick your ass for all those sister complex jokes." Homura responded with a smirk.
"Which is totally true." Yumi spoke up.
"...Miyabi. Kekkai. Now." Homura growled out as her eye twitched.
"Something tells me I'm gonna regret that." Yumi muttered out as they all vanished.
(Miyabi's Shinobi Kekkai)
(Cue Darkness of the Unknown by Yoko Shimomura)
"Kaito Change!" The five declared at the same time, soon being enveloped in flames before dying down with them now in their Phantom Thieves attire.
"Alright, give it your all everyone!" Joker called out as he cracked his knuckles before pulling out his knife and gun.
"You're good as gone!" Yang declared.
"Let's do this, Yang-neechan!" Yin cheered.
"Joker, don't hesitate." Widow warned as she summoned her fans.
"Just don't hold back." Serpent mumbled as brought out her katana.
Joker narrowed his eyes as he mentally went through his Personas and his enemy's strengths and weaknesses. "Let's see, Yin will need to be hit with Wind. Yang needs Water, Earth, Bless and Psycho. Serpent only needs Bless. With the amount of weaknesses and her aggressiveness, we should probably take out Yang first." He soon thought to himself.
"Do you have a plan?" Widow whispered to the Leader.
"Yep." Joker replied with a nod, never taking his eyes off their opponents. "And I bet they already have a plan as well." He then guessed.
"Then I guess we'll just have to adapt accordingly." Widow responded.
"Enough talk! WOLVERINE!" Yang called out as she ripped off her mask. "Gokuentou!" She soon ordered.
Her Persona roared before charging straight at the Leader! "Shit!" The Leader swore. He was expecting her to aim for the light gray haired girl. "Persona! Legion!" He then called out, summoning a writhing mass of faces in front of the girl.
FWOOSH! SLASH!
The Leader grunted, but smiled. "Quad resistance." He whispered.
"Ugh! What the hell is that thing!?" Yang got out with a grimace.
"It looks like it wants to die." Serpent added.
"We are perfectly fine, thank you very much." Legion responded with a huff. "Now please get your claws out of our eyes." It then requested in annoyance.
"Oh. Sorry." Wolverine apologized while pulling her claws out.
"...Humanity's consciousness is quite weird." Widow remarked.
"You should see Bugs." Joker muttered under his breath. "Double Ice?" He soon suggested.
"Hai!" Widow responded with a nod. "Fūma!" She commanded as she ripped off her mask.
"Jack Frost!" Joker called out, ripping his own mask off as well.
"Get behind us, Yang-neechan!" Yin ordered as the tan skinned girl jumped back.
However at that moment...
"Hee hoo!" The familiar adorable Persona called out. "Hiya Princess! How's it been!?" It then called out to the Vice Leader.
"Damn, forgot Jack Frost was like that towards Sis." Yang thought with a sweatdrop.
The white haired woman raised an eyebrow to that. "Princess?" Serpent repeated in confusion.
"They just do that for some reason." Yang deadpanned. "I have no idea why." She then added.
"Aw~ You're too cute, Jack Frost~" Yin cooed, too distracted to see the Leader reaching for his mask.
"SIS!" Yang suddenly called out.
"Eh?" Yin innocently got out just before...
"Hecatoncheires, Foul Breath!" Joker commanded, switching to one of the Personas the twins requested.
"Ack!" Yin choked as she stumbled back, wondering where the beloved mascot went in her momentary confusion.
"And...Lullaby!" Joker then called out as a white cloud began to spew from his Persona's mouth. "Nighty night!"
"Dammit!" Yang coughed as she and Serpent did their best to resist the ailment.
"What...are you...Zzzzz..." Yin tried to keep herself awake, however...
THUD!
"Luring her in with Jack Frost..." Widow stated as the Vice Leader collapsed to the ground. "That was quite dirty of you, Joker." She then added in disapproval.
"All's fair in cuteness and war." The Leader simply responded. "And be glad Brainwash and Despair is off the table." He then reminded with a shiver.
"Dumbass." Serpent deadpanned as she shook her head while the Vice Leader lay unconscious.
"D-Don't blame Sis for that!" Yang growled.
"I am blaming her!" Serpent however declared. "Now focus on revenge because here they come!" She then ordered.
The tan skinned girl's eyes widened as she focused back onto the Leader and the light gray haired girl, who were both charging at them. "Fūma! Aqeus!" Widow commanded.
SPLASH!
Yang quickly grabbed the Vice Leader's unconscious body and jumped away while the white haired woman went the other direction. After making sure she was safe, the tan skinned girl ripped off her mask. "Come on, Wolverine! Terror Claw!" She soon called out.
"Arsene!" Joker meanwhile responded as he ripped his mask off.
CLANG!
Joker's knees wobbled as his Persona intercepted the attack. It hurt, but he felt its secondary effect fade from his mind in an instant.
"Null Fear." Joker muttered as he smirked. "Just in case." He then added.
"Nobunaga, Heat Wave!" Serpent suddenly commanded.
"Oh shit." Joker swore as he barely jumped out of the way, torching the end of his coat. "Gotta keep our distance! We're dealing with our CQC fighters!" He thought as he cycled through his Personas. "This one should do! Kaiwan! Psiodyne!" He soon commanded as he ripped his mask off.
Soon, orbs of psychic energy surrounded Yang before converging into her. "AAAHHH!"' She screamed in pain.
"1 More!" Joker declared. "Makajamaon, now!" He then ordered.
"Gah!" Serpent grunted as the spell took hold of her mind. "W-What the...what am I doing?" She then got out, shaking her head.
"Hm, you seem to be favoring status ailments today, Joker." Widow remarked.
"If it stops them from hurting us..." Joker muttered with a shrug.
It was right then the woman noticed the two in strange outfits. "Hey, are we fighting!?" She soon called out.
"Oh, uh...not right now." The Leader answered. He wondered if he could convince her to end the fight and give them a win on a technicality.
"But I'm using my sword right now, and you guys look dangerous." Serpent muttered before noticing the two fallen girls. "What the!? Who are these two? What did you do to them!? YOU FUCKERS! RRRRAAAAAHHHHH!" She then questioned in a panic followed before getting angry and rushed in.
"I wonder why whoever gave us these powers let us use these skills..." Joker couldn't help but think, even as the murderous woman was charging at them. "RUN!" He soon ordered in a panic.
"Fuma! Dazzler!" Widow quickly commanded.
"AH!" the white haired woman yelped as she was suddenly blinded, the last thing in her vision being Widow's Persona. "Did I get flashbanged by a magical spider lady!?" She then groaned.
"An oni spider lady!" Fuma corrected with a huff before returning to her other self.
"G-Gah..." They suddenly heard the tan skinned girl growl as she struggled to her feet. "Come on, Yang, move!" She encouraged herself while glaring at her opponents.
"She's getting up!" Widow warned.
"Let me take care of Serpent first!" Joker responded before switching Personas. "Anubis! Ham-" He then began, however...
"FUCK YOU!" Yang's roar interrupted the command as she...
WHAM!
...Dropkicked the Leader and sent him flying. "You aren't winning that easily!" The tan skinned girl called out.
"JOKER!" Widow called out before turning to her student. "Language, Yang!" She then chided.
"Sorry!" Yang apologized while bowing to her. "Wolverine, Gokuentou." She then quickly commanded while ripping off her mask.
FWOOSH! SLASH!
"AH!" Widow yelped as she was swatted away by the heated claws.
"Okay, that was dirty even by my standards." The tan skinned girl thought. "You okay, Serpent?" Yang asked as she went to the white haired woman's side.
"Who's Serpent?" Serpent however got out in confusion while tilting her head.
SLAP!
"Better?" Yang asked while holding the paper fan.
"Better." Serpent groaned. "Now...how about a taste of their own medicine?" She soon suggested.
"You know an ailment?" Yang soon asked.
"Ominous Words." Serpent revealed.
Yang flinched. "No, screw that noise." She quickly shut the idea down. "We are not subjecting them to that." She then concluded.
"Oh. An old fashioned beatdown, then?" Serpent assumed as she cracked her knuckles.
"Yep!" Yang responded with a nod.
"What about Yin?" Serpent however reminded as they glanced towards the sleeping girl.
"Let her regain her energy. If we can't win, we can at least wear them down for Yin to finish." Yang responded as the brunette nodded in agreement.
"...Why aren't you the Vice Leader again?" Serpent suddenly questioned.
"Eh, democratic vote. Now let's go!" Yang awkwardly answered before shouting in determination.
Meanwhile, Joker and Widow were recovering from their attacks.
"U-Urgh, you had to take a second to scold her..." Joker groaned as he picked himself up.
"I thought she'd be a little more honorable..." Widow muttered while the Leader helped her to her feet. "I will be intensifying her training next time." She mentally told herself.
"Widow!" Joker suddenly called out.
"Hm?" Widow got out in confusion before quickly guarding each of the tan skinned girl's strikes. "Yang!" She called out.
"Widow!" Yang responded. "This isn't too different from our spars, huh?" She jokingly pointed out.
In response, the light gray haired girl blinked for a moment before giggling in amusement. "Indeed it is." Widow replied with a nod of agreement. "However, there is one difference." She then suddenly started.
"Oh, what is it, pray tell?" Yang had to ask, though had a smirk underneath her mask.
"I'm trying to win this time." Widow responded with a rebellious smirk.
"As am I!" Yang countered before headbutting her opponent. "Wolverine! Charge!" She commanded.
"G-Gah...Fūma! Dormina!" Widow struggled out her command.
"Oh no, you don-" Yang began as she went to rip off her mask, however...
Widow smirked. "Joker!" She called out.
"Legion! Life Drain!" The tan skinned girl suddenly heard right before feeling a lot of her energy being drained from her body.
Joker, now rejuvenated, smirked. "Thanks for the stamina boost!" He got out before going back to fighting the white haired woman.
Yang slumped down as she now felt like she had run a marathon across the city. "D-Damn, that Dormina was a distraction..." She groaned.
"And it's about to be the end of your battle here." Widow declared while summoning her Persona. "Aque-" She then started, however...
"MAGNARA!" A familiar voice suddenly called out.
RUMBLE! CRASH!
"AH!" The gray haired girl yelped as she was hit in the jaw by a pillar of earth, sending her to the ground. "A-Ahhh...What the...?" Widow groaned.
"Sorry for sleeping on the job, Yang-neechan." The Vice Leader apologized.
"Nope, you're here just in time!" Yang cheered as her sister helped her to her feet. They then smirked under their masks while focusing on the light gray haired girl. "Ready?" She soon asked.
Yin nodded before raising her swords. "Here we come!" She then declared before the two charged at the girl.
Widow nearly swore to herself before defending herself from the onslaught of attacks aimed at her. "You're doing! Significantly better! Then the last time I fought you two!" Widow grunted as she dodged every attack the two roommates threw at her. "It is as though you've been together all your life." She then confessed.
"Nope, you just caught us off guard!" Yang countered. "Plus, Ryuji wasn't exactly the best fighter back there." She then muttered.
"Ryuji-kun is better than you give him credit for." Yin insisted, even while kicking the info broker in the stomach.
"We'll see in the next training session." Yag responded. "Now, hurry up and lose already!" She then demanded while rushing in.
CLANG!
"J-Joker, I might need help here!" Widow struggled out.
"GIVE ME A SECOND!" Joker called back while dodging the white haired woman's swipes of her sword. "Why am I getting used to this?" He then thought before barely diving out of the way of a stab in the chest.
"You're getting used to my style, good." Serpent noted and praised in an impressed manner. "Maybe I should stay out of the next few fights. Mix it up a little and prepare some new moves." She soon suggested.
"Yeah. After I beat you!" Joker countered while ripping his mask off. "Atropos! ZIODYNE!" He soon ordered.
"Dammit!" Serpent exclaimed as she forced her body to move to avoid the large lightning bolt, giving the Leader the opportunity he needed to execute his plan.
"Concentrate..." Joker breathed out as he charged his next attack.
"Nobunaga! Stop him!" Serpent commanded as she tore her mask off. "Megaton Raid!" She then ordered.
"Mithras!" Joker quickly switched to another Persona and endured the attack. "RRAAHH!" He got out in pain.
Serpent frowned. While she was satisfied with the damage dealt, she knew better than to assume she got the better of someone as crafty as him. "You could've dodged that!" She called out.
"But then...I wouldn't be in the perfect position..." Joker panted before sloppily tearing off his mask. "Persona! Kouga!" He commanded.
"What!?" Serpent got out before paling a bit. "Oh crap." She soon swore.
SHINE!
"AGH!" Serpent got out in even more pain than usual as she collapsed.
"No!" The two sisters exclaimed as they watched their ally fall.
The white haired woman tried to stand back up, however a spike of pain stopped her. "Agh!" Serpent cried out in pain as she went to her knees. "D-Dammit, I think I'm out." She groaned.
"What!?" Yang gasped.
"No, Serpent!" Yin called out in shock.
"Press the advantage, Joker!" Widow called out.
"No, stand down and rest!" Joker however ordered. "We still have two more we have to deal with! Atropos, Mediarama!" He soon ordered.
"We should heal too." Yin decided as she removed her mask. "Kaeru, heal!" She eventually requested as both teams regained their energy.
"Right. You can do that." Joker thought with a groan as both teams were healed. "Alright, how do we play this?" He soon asked himself.
"Divide and conquer." Widow suggested. "They're weaker apart than they are together." She then explained.
"Hai. You will handle Yang, I will fight Yin." Widow responded with a nod and instructed.
"Y-Yeah." Joker responded with a hesitant nod. "Because that went so well last time..." He couldn't help but mutter under his breath. "Now, let's make sure they won't see it coming until it's too late. White Rider! Evil Touch!" He soon commanded.
"Fūma, Makajama!" Widow called out.
"Yang-nee!" Yin managed to get out a warning, but they were both already prepared.
Instantly, Yin and Yang guard against the spells, coming out of it without being inflicted with anything. "No more ailments, you dick!" Yang shouted out.
"Language!" Widow instinctively chided.
"Sorry! Slipped out!" Yang immediately responded, causing the others minus the Vice Leader to sweatdrop.
Joker was almost stupid enough to take advantage of the slight distraction and sucker punch the girl, but a reminder of the rules and Serpent's watchful gaze prevented him from doing so.
"Otohime! Malaques!" Joker commanded as the Persona waved her fan, creating a wave of water around him.
SPLASH! SPLASH!
Instantly, the duo jumped away to avoid getting washed away, only for Widow to intercept the Vice Leader's path in the air! "Aques!" She soon commanded.
SPLASH!
"YAH!" Yin exclaimed as she was blasted away.
"SIS!" Yang exclaimed.
"Widow, freeze the water!" Joker meanwhile ordered.
"Bufula!" The gray haired girl then called out, her Persona freezing the water before landing outside of it. "Now you're separated!" Widow declared with a smirk, the frozen wave standing proudly behind her with Joker and Yang in the middle.
"That was really smart, Widow." Yin couldn't help but compliment. "But that won't be enough to stop us!" She then declared.
"We'll see." Widow simply responded as she went into a battle stance.
"Miracle Punch!" Yin called out as she ripped her mask off as Kaeru pulled out a shining white boxing glove.
SPRONG! BONK!
"GAH!" Widow yelped out in pain before feeling dizzy.
"Wide open!" Yin called out as she rushed in and launched her opponent upward. "Aerial Rave!" She then declared as she jumped at her and slashed at her.
"F-Fūma!" Widow called out, summoning her Persona to help defend against the attacks.
"1 More!" Yin called out. "Hanzō-Style Spinning Storm Kick!" She then declared while sheathing her swords and extending her leg, spinning around wildly as her opponent was trapped in the attack.
WHAM!
And, with a quick axe kick, she finished her combo by slamming her opponent to the ground.
CRASH!
"Ngh..." The light gray haired girl got out as she collected herself. "I...I never knew you had Wind attacks..." Widow soon groaned.
"Hehe...not a Wind attack, that's more Katsu-nee's thing. Actually, she taught me that." The Vice Leader admitted before pointing her wakizashi at her opponent. "Just because you train Yang-neechan doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." She then whispered her warning.
"And...you shouldn't..." Widow panted as she picked herself up with a pained noise. "However...it is useful information..." She then confessed.
"Hm?" Yin hummed out in confusion.
"For finding a loophole in the rules." Widow answered. "Serpent never said anything about our Ninja Arts, did she?" She then assumed.
"Huh?" Yin responded before her eyes widened. "Wait, Serpent!?" She called out.
"Oh..." Serpent got out as she slapped her forehead. "I knew I forgot something. Ah, it's too late now. Go nuts." She soon decided while waving it off.
"EH!?" Yin exclaimed in a more panicked manner.
At that moment...
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
Suddenly, several spears of ice hit the Vice Leader, sticking to her. "Ice Spear Dance!" Widow declared just as the ice shattered.
"AH!" Yin yelped before shivering. "B-Brrr...!" She barely got out.
"Allow me to heat you up! Fūma!" Widow declared before blasting the Vice Leader with a torrent of water.
SPLASH!
Meanwhile, within the makeshift arena, Yang and Joker circling around each other, waiting for their opponent to make the next move.
"Nice moves back there, Joker." Yang admitted, admiring the ice wall a little. "This'll make an excellent backdrop to your defeat." She then remarked.
"I should say the same to you." Joker countered. "It's been really difficult not to counter with some melee." He then had to admit.
"Limitation breeds creativity." Yang stated in a wise tone. "Now, let's see if I can stretch the creativity a little further." She then added.
Joker only smirked before they stared each other down. "...Jack Frost!" He soon commanded.
"Wolverine!" Yang called out. "Gokuentou!" She commanded.
"Magnadyne!" Joker suddenly commanded.
RUMBLE! CCCCRRRRAAAACCCKKK!
Before Yang could react to the attack, it was too late as Jack Frost stomped the ground, causing an earthquake before the ground opened up, nearly swallowing the girl as she was knocked off her feet.
"What the hell...?" Yang got out, blinking a couple of times to process what just happened. "That...That was not an Ice skill!" She then exclaimed. "...You used a Skill Card, didn't you!?" She soon accused.
"Yep." Joker responded with a nod before blinking. "...I accidentally used my only copy of Bufudyne on another Persona." He then muttered.
"Which one?" Yang had to ask as she got into a defensive stance.
"Ariadne Picaro." Joker responded as the Persona appeared behind him. "Blastoff!" He then suddenly declared.
"Oh-" Yang began before...
CRACKLE! CRASH!
Yang was blasted straight through the ice wall just as Yin was blasted away by Widow, causing them to hit each other and drop to the ground.
"They're down!" Joker called out as he twirled his knife.
"Let us finish this battle! ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Widow declared before rushing the-
"WAIT!" Joker suddenly shouted out, stopping the light gray haired girl and snapping the roommates out of their dazed state. The Leader then turned to the sitting white haired woman. "Does it count as a physical move?" He soon asked.
"...What?" Serpent got out.
"Does an All-Out Attack count as a physical move?" Joker repeated in a serious tone.
Serpent blinked. She didn't think that far ahead. "Oh. Uh..." She awkwardly got out.
"Serpent, please say yes. Say yes!" Yin begged.
"You're only saying that because you're about to lose." Serpent pointed out before closing her eyes to think. "Hmm..." She soon hummed out.
"...Would you hurry it up? My adrenaline is about to wear off." Yang grumbled.
"Give me a moment, you impatient little girl!" Serpent snapped. "...You know, just for that, I'm gonna say no." She then declared.
"Sweet." Joker got out with a small fist pump.
"What!?" Yang however exclaimed before glaring at the woman. "You son of a-" She then began, however...
"ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker ordered as the remaining members charged in.
SLASH! SMACK! SLASH! SMACK! SLASH! SMACK! SLASH! SMACK! SLASH!
(Shibuya, Central Street)
"And that's game!" Akira declared as soon as they reappeared back into reality.
"Urgh..." Asuka and Homura moaned in pain before picking themselves off the ground.
"That was...Dammit, I almost had you..." Miyabi panted before cracking her back. "A-Ahhhh..." She sighed out in satisfaction.
"I thought...you said...it was a friendly sparring match?" Asuka groaned.
"It was. You didn't die." Miyabi responded.
"Too...much...in pain...to swear vengeance." Homura moaned in pain. "Well if you need us, and I pray you don't ever again, you know where to find us. Ow. Ow." She then got out in pain.
"There there, Homu-neechan." Asuka got out, trying to comfort her sister as they limped home to rest for a bit.
"Should we...make sure they actually make it home?" Akira meanwhile questioned with a concerned look on his face. "I'll pay Homura to train some of the others sometime as compensation." He mentally decided.
"They'll be fine. If they were trained properly, they'll be able to make it home." Miyabi replied while waving it off without any concern.
"Miyabi-san..." Yumi got out in a disappointed tone.
"You don't seem all that hurt." Akira meanwhile noticed, glancing at the only adult of the Phantom Thieves.
"Oh, I am definitely in pain right now but I'm strong enough not to show it." The white haired woman stated before adjusting her stance. "...Ow." She winced out.
"You feel any stronger?" Akira had to ask.
"I will after a nice hot bath." Miyabi answered as she rolled her shoulders.
"I would actually like to thank you." Yumi spoke up as she bowed to the two. "You have given me insight into my teammates in a controlled environment. Maybe this is what I needed to improve my own training." She then informed.
"Oh, uh...you're welcome." Miyabi responded with a small blush.
"I actually look forward to the next spar, Miyabi-san." Yumi soon confessed, surprising and getting the white haired woman's attention. "I would like to test my mettle against you and hopefully everyone else once they are strong enough." She then added before turning to the Leader. "I especially want to fight you, Akira-kun. The last time we fought, you cheated using Mudo. I wish to remedy that." She eventually concluded and stated.
"Erm...I'll look forward to it too." Akira awkwardly chuckled while sweating a little. "See you later, okay?" He then offered.
The info broker nodded to that before bowing once again. "Akira‐kun, Miyabi-san. I will see you later." Yumi soon got out.
"See you." Akira replied with a wave. "Oh, and good luck with your, uh, thing!" He then encouraged.
"Thank you!" Yumi called back. And with that, she disappeared into the crowd.
"Looks like Yumi's warming up to you, Miyabi." Akira noted with a smile.
"Y-Yeah..." Miyabi awkwardly responded before sighing. "But it's not exactly getting me anywhere towards my goals." She then mentally grumbled with a frown on her face.
"...You seem irritated for some reason." Akira pointed out.
"What? Oh it's just..." Miyabi got out before clenching her fists. "I'm looking into who the hell yelled all those terrible things at Futaba in my offtime and so far I haven't found any of them." She admitted.
"Yeah, I get that. What they did was just cruel." Akira agreed with a nod. "What are you going to do to them?"
"If you think I'm gonna kill them, you're wrong." Miyabi responded as she crossed her arms. "I want them to live, to apologize. And if they don't, I'll make sure for the rest of their lives they'll be breathing through a fucking tube while denying them the right to die."
"Death is a mercy. The easy way out." Akira remarked.
"Yep." Miyabi breathed out. "No matter who or where they are...I will find them." She then promised.
The Leader simply nodded to that; their feelings for revenge shared amongst them.
SHATTER!
RANK UP! RANK !
Unlocked Menacing Talk!
Chance to step in after Shadow negotiation fails, allowing a retry.
BZZT! BZZT!
"Ah, that must be Imu." Miyabi got out as she pulled out her phone. "Moshi moshi." She soon greeted while turning on the speaker. The crowd was too loud after all.
"MIYABI I LOVE YOU!" Imu suddenly screamed.
Akira immediately facefaulted after hearing that. A sudden confession of love!? Seriously!?
"Yes Imu, I love you too. You're the bestest friend I ever had. You don't need to remind me." Miyabi responded in a nonchalant manner.
"MIYABI, PLEASE! IT'S NOT-" Imu then started, however...
"Sorry, I'm in the middle of something. Bye Imu, I'll call you tomorrow." Miyabi interrupted before hanging up. "So...You used Mudo on Yumi." She then recalled.
"Y-You...she..." Akira began in disbelief.
However, that only served to confuse the white haired woman. "What?" Miyabi responded with a raised eyebrow.
"...No, it's better if she finds out for herself." Akira mentally decided as he shook his head. "Nothing. As for the Mudo thing, it was the quickest way of incapacitating. She was kinda kicking our asses." He then answered.
"By herself." Miyabi deadpanned.
"We didn't want to kill her." Akira reminded. "And not to mention she's the Leader of her set of Elites." He then added.
"Asuka and Homura were there, right?" Miyabi questioned.
"We didn't know she was a shinobi at first." Akira admitted. "It caught us off guard." He then stated.
"You're just making excuses." Miyabi sighed out.
"I am not." Akira groaned as the white haired woman laughed.
(8/12, Afternoon)
(Sakamoto Residence)
"Time for another afternoon of gaming." Homura breathed out as she stretched her limbs. After losing that fight earlier in the day, she took the time to rest a bit a while before heading to the dyed blond's place to relax and mooch off his games.
"Hell, yeah. And believe me, you're in for something special, Homura." Ryuji agrees as he goes through his video game collection.
Homura in response smirked. "Bring it on!" She declared with confidence.
"Okay, you asked for it!" Ryuji nodded as he picked out a game he played with the Vice Leader. "Try this one!" He hands it to her.
"Hm." Homura hummed out. "Until Dawn." She read out as she blinked a couple of times. "...Sis played this?" She then questioned in a serious tone while her eyes were narrow.
"She was determined to play it at the time, I swear!" Ryuji immediately responded.
Homura however kept a skeptical look on her face. "She must've tried playing this for Fear Resistance training." She mentally deducted.
"I told her it was gonna be intense, but she really wanted to play it." Ryuji soon explained. "So seeing that she was not backing out, I let her play it." He then added.
Homura in response sweatdropped at this reveal. "Yup, that sounds like Sis." She replied.
"Mm-hm." Ryuji nodded as he took out the disk and inserted it into the PS4 and handed her the controller.
"So, what's the story for the game? Judging by the cover, it looks like a horror game." Homura soon asked and deducted.
"It's more of an interactive drama horror game. It's about a group of friends trying to survive the night from what's in the mountains they're on." Ryuji explained. "As the title said, you have to survive until dawn. But like any other horror trope, it's never easy for them." He then added.
"So it's like one of those old horror movies?" Homura guessed.
"Pretty much, but it's also a bit of a murder mystery." Ryuji replied with a nod. "There was an incident a year before the main story and some sisters went missing. So not only do ya have to survive the night, but also try to discover what really happened the year before." He then informed.
"Got it." Homura responded with a nod of her own as she started the game, eventually getting to the part where her sister made it too, causing her to wince at what she witnessed. "Yeah, they're obviously dead..." She muttered.
"Yep. They sure are." Ryuji nodded as he watched her play.
"Seriously, bullying like that would obviously cause trouble in the future. It's like they didn't even think of the consequences of their actions." Homura remarked in annoyance.
"That's pretty much what happens in horror movies all the time." Ryuji explained "There's always the asshole that likes to pull pranks on others and they just laugh it off like it's no big deal. But they'll usually get their comeuppance in the end."
"Unfortunately in horror movies, it usually ends in death though." Homura sighed out before gaining a determined expression. "Like hell I'm gonna let that happen though." She then declared.
"Then you better start making the right choices as you play the game. This is another game that has players make choices as the story goes on. You remember Infamous, right?" Ryuji explained and reminded.
"Yeah, I remember." Homura responded with a nod before focusing her attention on the game.
"The same happens here where the choices you make determine the outcome of the story. Here, they call it the Butterfly Effect." Ryuji explained to her.
"Right. Now let me focus on the game." Homura replied and requested, focusing on the screen.
"Alright, alright." Ryuji backed off as he watched her play.
Though as the game went on...
"All you did was stand there!" Ryuji shouted out. "How the hell did you mess up pointing and pressing X!?" He then stated.
"They were fast for me, alright!?" Homura countered in frustration.
"I thought you ninjas were supposed to have fast reflexes! You could've survived that!" Ryuji shot back.
"That's in real life! Games are different!" Homura remindeed with a pout.
"That's exactly what your sister said!" Ryuji rebuttal.
To that, Homura blushed as the pout never faded as she went back to playing.
Ryuji smirked at this as he continued watching her play.
And even though Homura was into it and got to the end...
BOOM!
"And with that, everyone's dead. Congrats." Ryuji bluntly and awkwardly declared.
The tan skinned girl's eye twitched as the credits rolled, showing all the characters' deaths once more. "...Fuck that shit! I'm playing it again and savin' everyone!" Homura countered in a furious manner.
"Then you'd better start making the right choices if you want everyone to make it out alive." Ryuji soon advised. "But like I said, it's never easy in horror movies. It's basically trial and error." He then added.
"No kidding..." Homura growled as she prepared to play again. "...Since when were you this smart sounding?" She soon asked in realization with a raised eyebrow.
"I can have my moments of brilliance. You guys just don't give me enough credit." Ryuji confidently replied as he smirked while crossing his arms proudly.
Homura however rolled her eyes to that, but giggled all the same as she went back to playing, feeling as though her Knowledge was slightly improving as a result of having to memorize and remember her past actions to not make the same mistakes.
Ryuji, however, continued watching her as this time, she was able to make the right choices and save everyone as she reached the final moments of the game.
"Don't...move..." Homura whispered in a tense tone as she watched as the Wendigo on screen got closer to the character she was controlling while tightly gripping the vibrating controller. Sweat was even running down the side of her head.
"Wait for it...Wait for it..." Ryuji did the same as he waited until the Wendigo got close enough.
SCREEEEEEEECH!
It soon let out the ear piercing screech right in front of her face before moving away.
"Now! Run!" Homura declared as she watched her character make a break for it after everyone else had escaped.
"Make it! Make it! Make it! Make it!" Ryuji shouted as he watched the chase scene.
Then just as one of the Wendigos almost caught the blonde on screen, the bigger Wendigo got in the way by pouncing at it just as the girl flipped the switch.
CLICK! FWOOOOOOOSH! BOOM!
This caused an explosion from the broken lightbulb and gaslight that consumed both Wendigos and the cabin in flames.
"Whew..." Homura breathed out as she relaxed a bit. "All...alive this time." She concluded.
"Yeah, just barely..." Ryuji responded in agreement while breathing a sigh of relief as the credits rolled and the survivors were being interviewed.
"Of course no one would believe in actual monsters." Homura sighed out. "And we're a group of thieves that fought against Shadows." She then added.
"Yeah, so we'll just have to keep it that way. Like anyone's going to believe a bunch of kids like us." Ryuji replied in agreement while putting his arms behind his head.
"True." Homura responded with a nod. "Still, that was intense." She then admitted. "Hopefully there isn't a Shadow or Persona version of a Wendigo." She soon added.
"That would be hell. I'd really hate to even see one after this." Ryuji got out in agreement until he noticed something after the credits. "Hey, there's a post credit scene." He then informed as he tapped on her shoulder.
"Hm?" Homura hummed out as she took notice...only to wince at the remaining survivor already turning into a wendigo. "And the curse goes on." She concluded.
"Yeah, that's another trope of horror stories. Just when you think it's over, the monster or villain always finds a way to come back." Ryuji nodded as he took the game out and stored it away.
"Of course." Homura replied with a sigh as she stretched her limbs. "Still, not a bad game." She then admitted.
"Oh yeah, definitely one of the better ones released. That left me on the edge of my seat." Ryuji responded in agreement. "Hey, you wanna play something else? There's still a couple more I want to show you and Asuka." He then revealed.
Homura in turn smirked as she got to her feet. "Maybe next time." She replied.
"Calling it quits? I guess that's fine with me." Ryuji responded with a nod. "So I'll be seeing you at the same time?" He then asked.
"Yup." Homura replied with a nod of her own before heading out.
"Cool. Later." Ryuji called out to her.
Homura simply gave a thumbs-up in response as she left the residences for home.
(8/13, Evening)
(Kichijoji, Shopping District)
"Ah, there you are." Miyabi responded with her hands in her hoodie pockets while looking at the Vice Leader. "Glad you accepted my invitation." She then admitted.
"I couldn't really turn it down. Although, is this another fight? I don't see Akira-kun anywhere." Asuka responded and asked while looking around.
"It isn't. I just found the time to explore and I wanted to spend some time with you alone." Miyabi responded and confessed. "Have you seen this place? It has everything!" She then asked and stated in an impressed manner.
"It...kinda does." Asuka muttered before turning her gaze towards the furniture store. "That reminds me, we need to replace Akira-kun's bed..." She then muttered.
"We aren't here to buy furniture." Miyabi stated as she took the Vice Leader's hand and the two started walking. "We're here for this place." She then revealed, eventually coming to a stop when they arrived at their destination.
"Welcome, young ladies." A monk soon greeted. "Would you like to visit our gardens? There is no need for payment." He then offered and informed.
"Yes." Miyabi replied with a nod.
"Very well. Take your time and relax. Oh, and be sure to remain as quiet as possible." The monk responded and requested.
"Thank you." Miyabi responded with a nod. "Come on, let's go Asuka." She then ordered.
"So, why are we here at the shrine?" Asuka innocently asked in a curious manner as they headed in.
"There's something more to you than you realize..." Miyabi thought to herself in a serious tone. "Asuka, do you ever feel...incomplete?" She suddenly asked.
"No." Asuka automatically answered.
"Not even a little?" Miyabi questioned as she narrowed her eyes.
"No. With Kaeru, I feel I know myself better than before." Asuka responded.
Miyabi however shook her head in response to this. "She doesn't even realize it herself..." She thought to herself.
"Miyabi-chan?" Asuka responded in confusion.
"Asuka, I've seen that other side of you. The beast hiding within..." Miyabi soon stated.
"...My bitch side?" Asuka assumed as she narrowed her eyes.
Miyabi in turn shook her head to this. "No, something much more...intense then that." She vaguely responded.
"...What?" Asuka responded, now really confused by this.
"...A darkness..." Miyabi thought to herself, her eyes narrowed at the Vice Leader.
"...Miyabi-chan, have you been watching too many serial killer documentaries or something?" Asuka complained with an unamused expression. "Because I feel like you're trying to psychoanalyze me." She then added.
"What? N-No!" Miyabi responded. "There's just something I can sense within you...something you don't even realize." She then revealed.
"Not even Kaeru?" Asuka questioned. "I mean, if Kaeru was hiding something from me, then it must be really important. Or it doesn't exist and you're just looking into things too deeply." She then stated.
"Not even Kaeru." Miyabi responded in a serious tone. "In order to accept what is within your heart, you must stare into the abyss and allow it to stare back." She soon stated.
"I-I don't get it." Asuka got out with a frown. "I have a good handle on my repressed side. I mean, I have a Persona, right?" She then added.
"I know. However, just because you accept it as a part of yourself doesn't mean you are complete." Miyabi responded and instructed.
"..." The Vice Leader didn't seem all that convinced though.
"You'll see. Now sit down." Miyabi ordered as she pushed the younger girl down. "This is the perfect place to take in the fresh air and meditate." She then breathed out.
"Meditation huh..." Asuka responded as the older woman sat down next to her.
"You haven't done it before?" Miyabi assumed.
"I have." Asuka corrected. "I just haven't done it recently. Last time I did it was under a waterfall with one of my friends from back at Hanzō." She then confessed and explained while rubbing the back of her neck from phantom soreness as a result of remembering.
"Well, given what we do, maybe you should take a moment to let go of your desires for just one moment and reflect on what matters to you." Miyabi soon stated. "Now, close your eyes and let yourself go." She then instructed.
With a huff, Asuka nodded and did as instructed, soon relaxing a bit as a result.
Badump...Badump...Badump...
"Ahhh...isn't this wonderful?" Miyabi breathed out. However, at the lack of a response, the white haired woman looked at her companion. "Asuka?" Miyabi called out with a raised eyebrow. "Hello, Asuka?" She once more called out before narrowing her eyes. "As I thought..." She thought to herself.
The Vice Leader remained silent as the world around her faded away, leaving only a black void. "Why do I feel so...weightless now...?" Asuka thought with a hazy look in her eyes.
Suddenly, she found herself surrounded by her friends and family...but they were all faceless except for their mouths, all of them frozen in happy grins and their bodies were completely gray as well.
"No...this isn't right..." Asuka thought to herself, shaking her head as the gray version of the people she knew vanished like dust in the wind.
However, only one remained.
"Kaeru?" Asuka quietly muttered.
"..." Her Persona didn't respond, only floating away from her.
"Hey, wait, come back!" Asuka exclaimed as she stood up and started chasing her Persona, who then started to point in a random direction before completely vanishing as well. "Kaeru, don't...disappear..." She panted out, only becoming more confused by this action. "What was that about?" She then wondered while scratching her head.
"Is this all you want?"
"You think you can just do whatever you want, don't you?"
"There's more to life than being a shinobi."
"Maybe I'm better off as a civilian..."
Asuka clutched her head, shielding herself for voices she could recognise. Moreso since it was her own voice saying those things. Having no idea what was happening, all she could do was run in the direction her Persona, her other self had pointed at.
And as she ran, a light began to shine in the distance. "Is that...what Kaeru wanted- AH!" She yelped as she suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.
THUD! SPLASH!
However, it was not by her own two feet, but by something grabbing her foot. Suddenly, she felt something beginning to slither up her legs and wrap around her limbs. Tendrils of black flames that were dragging her deeper into the darkness. "H-Huh? No no no no no!" She got out in a panic as her clothes burned away, but...none of it hurt.
Actually, it was almost...comforting...
Like...the warm embrace of her mother's hugs.
"What...is this?" Asuka soon began to wonder as she began to be consumed by the black flames, unaware of the wicked smile forming on her face before...
"Asuka, snap out of it." A voice suddenly broke through the void, reached in and...pinched her cheeks.
"Ow! Huh? What? Where am I?" Asuka gasped as the world returned while instinctively rubbing her cheek.
Miyabi raised an eyebrow to that. "Um, still at the shrine. You were starting to drool, so I thought you were nodding off to sleep." She responded.
"Oh, u-um, sorry..." Asuka mumbled as she wiped the drool off her chin.
"No, it's okay." Miyabi got out as she looked up to the sky. "I should be meditating too. After everything going on recently and just living here in the city...it makes you appreciate how quiet this place is. Makes me miss home." She then decided and confessed.
"Yeah..." Asuka replied with a nod of agreement. "I haven't seen my friends back home in so long..." She soon confessed.
"I'm sure you'll see them soon." Miyabi reassured. "Now, let's clear our minds and enjoy the silence." She soon instructed.
"Hai." Asuka responded before the two crossed their legs and closed their eyes. She soon felt as though her Courage and Proficiency had improved as a result as they stayed there for a good few hours.
(Niijima Residence)
KNOCK KNOCK!
"I'm coming!" Makoto called out as she stumbled out of her room while pulling down her shirt and wiping the sweat off her forehead. After taking a second to look into a reflection and clean herself up a little more, she opened the door. "O-Oh, Homura-san." She got out, surprised to see her best friend at the door.
"Hello, Makoto." Homura greeted. "I wish to train in Maturity with you if that is alright." She soon requested.
"Wait, really?" Makoto got out. "Erm...I don't really have anything prepared." She then sheepishly admitted.
"It's okay. I know you'll do well regardless of what you decide. Now, can I come in?" Homura replied and asked.
"You...may." Makoto hesitantly responded as she allowed her friend in. "However, can you please call ahead of time when you come? I was in the middle of something." She then requested and informed.
"...I sent you a text though." Homura however pointed out.
In response, Makoto blinked as she took out her phone...and immediately blushed in embarrassment. "So you did..." She mumbled.
This in turn caused the tan skinned to giggle. "Guess you had a scatterbrain moment huh?" Homura jokingly assumed in amusement.
Makoto in response to that sighed. "So it seems." She responded in slight embarrassment.
"What were you doing anyways?" Homura soon asked.
"U-Um...working out." Makoto mumbled as she looked away.
Homura however raised an eyebrow in response. "That explains the work-out clothes." She replied while giving her best friend an up-down.
"Y-Yes." Makoto responded with a nod and a blush. "Erm, let me take a quick, cold shower." She then got out.
"Ok?" Homura responded with a raised eyebrow. "I'll go wait here." She then decided.
"Thank you." Makoto replied with a nod as she made her way to the bathroom.
"Huh, I don't remember seeing any exercise equipment last time I was in her room." Homura muttered. "Ah, she probably had it stored some-" She then deducted before...
She stopped.
Oh. My. God.
Makoto at 9 years old.
"..." Homura looked around for a sec before taking out her phone to take a picture to show Sis later tonight. And now that she was here, she couldn't stop herself from looking at all the photos-starting with the one with a woman in a gown and her degree.
"This must be her sister." Homura realized as she looked at the photo before glancing over all the others. "Huh, I don't see any photos of her parents though. Not even her father." She then noticed.
She soon noticed another photo of the same woman in her teenage years, wearing a very familiar uniform.
"Whoa, her sister went to Shujin? She actually looks happy here." Homura got out in disbelief. "Wait, doesn't she look a little...familiar...?" She then muttered as she studied the photo a little closer. "...Leblanc." She muttered in realization.
"Homura-san?" Makoto suddenly spoke up, causing the girl to jump and turn around to see her dressed in fresh new clothes while drying her hair with a towel.
"Oh, sorry, just...noticing that there aren't any photos of your parents." Homura apologized and hesitantly stated.
"I think they're somewhere in storage." Makoto muttered as she looked at one of the few photos in the apartment. It was of herself and Sae on their first days of school. "My sister took them all down when dad died..." She then revealed.
Immediately, the tan skinned girl winced. "Ah...my apologies..." Homura responded.
"It's fine." Makoto reassured.
The tan skinned girl soon started looking at the other photos. "...Wow, have you kept that haircut ever since you were a kid?" Homura soon noted in a curious manner.
"W-What's wrong with my hair?" Makoto asked in a concerned manner as she brushed her hair through her fingers.
"Nothing, it's just that it's kinda cute." Homura replied.
Immediately, the Shujin Student Council President blushed even more. "C-Cute?" Makoto stammered out. "E-Erm, well, it's quite the functional haircut. I didn't see much point in changing it other than cutting it back to an appropriate length." She then explained.
"Yeah, I can understand." Homura responded with a nod. "Although, what can I say? I haven't cut my hair...ever save for the time I was dragged into one of Sis's modeling gigs." She then confessed and noted.
"It is still nearly touching the ground." Makoto pointed out. "Have you thought about tying it up?" She soon suggested.
"I used to, but I like it like this now." Homura replied. "Sis's hair was the same, but since we got our Personas, we never bothered tying it again." She then explained.
"Hm." Makoto hummed out.
"Ah, we aren't here to talk about hair. We're here for training." Homura remembered.
"True." Makoto responded with a nod of agreement."So what made you come here today anyways?" She soon asked.
"Sorry, it's just that I realized I was holding it off for quite a while now." Homura apologized and explained. "It's time for me to be mature." She then decided.
"Homura-san, you've shown more maturity than me at times. I think you'll do fine without this training." Makoto insisted in a reassuring manner.
"Well, I can always be better!" Homura however declared. "Come on, the only other person I know who has great maturity is...no one." She then pleaded, pausing in the middle to think.
"Okay, okay. I'll do it, don't you worry too much." Makoto responded, feeling a tinge of pride from the compliment towards her.
"Thanks." Homura replied. "Now, what's our first lesson?" She soon asked.
"The first step to maturity...is uh...um..." Makoto stammered as she tried to think of something. She could probably teach a class if it involved something academic like math. But something as vague as maturity was just outside of her skillset. So, she fell back into her comfort zone. "...Do you need help with your homework?" She soon asked.
"...Yes..." Homura awkwardly responded.
"That means you haven't finished your summer assignment." Makoto sighed. "I guess the first step to maturity is scheduling..." She then muttered under her breath.
"Hai..." Homura responded with a nod. "So much going on at once, it is not easy." She then confessed.
"No kidding. Now, did you bring it with you?" Makoto responded and asked.
"I actually did." Homura responded as she took it out of her bag. "I try to do at least some of it whenever I have the time." She then explained.
"That's good." Makoto responded as she nodded in approval. "Now then, how about we start with that and go from there?" She then suggested as the two made their way to the dining room table.
"Sounds good to me." Homura replied with a nod. "Actually, I've been stuck on this one question." She soon confessed.
"I see. This one tends to trip people up. Even I got this wrong last year." Makoto admitted with a frown. "It's just the wording though. So let's figure this out together." She soon offered as the two got to work.
And so, the two worked through each and every question Homura had yet to answer. Eventually, Homura was only down to the last page.
"I got it!" Homura declared in satisfaction.
"...You forgot to round to the nearest point zero zero." Makoto however informed.
"Ack! Thanks for catching that." Homura got out. "Urgh, so what if I'm only a hundredth off, you can't mark that as completely wrong. A shuriken wouldn't complain if I was a little off aim. If I missed it by that much, it wouldn't have hurt them in the first place." She then muttered in frustration.
"Homura-san, if you ever go to university, these details could be the difference between a pass and a fail." Makoto however stated. "Unfortunately, for what emphasis on academics there is, practical experience is what matters most in the adult world." She then advised.
"I know that. I'm a shinobi, my usual main way of learning is through experiences." Homura stated before groaning and holding her head. "Ugh, I think that's the limit of homework I can handle today." She then added.
"Well, I was going to suggest we stop anyway for a break." Makoto replied. "You only have left is your essay and you should be done." She then informed.
"Oh thank god." Homura breathed out in relief. "I wonder if Sis has finished her homework..." She then wondered in concern.
"Don't worry, she came over recently and I helped her finish hers." Makoto assured.
"...All of it?" Homura soon asked.
"All of it." Makoto all but confirmed with a nod. "Now, what do you want? I'm feeling a little peckish right now."
"I could go for an apple." Homura replied with a shrug.
"I think we have a fruit platter in the fridge. Let me go check." Makoto got out as she got up from her chair. "Ah! There it is." She then informed.
"...A Buchimaru plate?" The tan skinned girl noticed with an amused tone.
"It's the only plate with sectioned off areas." Makoto sheepishly explained, only to see the tan skinned girl lean closer with a look. "It was an impulse buy." She then admitted.
"It's...cute." Homura then stated.
"All the Buchimaru merch doesn't exactly paint the image of a mature girl." Makoto muttered with a hint of shame.
"Buchimaru-kun?" Homura repeated before noticing the panda related items. "...I actually like pandas." She soon confessed.
"Homura, I know you. You're just saying that." Makoto sighed as she shook her head.
Homura however blushed at that. "Don't tell Sis...but back at Hebijo...I had a panda plushie I slept with..." She then meekly confessed.
Upon hearing that, the Shujin Student Council President blinked. "Huh?" Makoto got out as she looked at her friend.
"It was the first thing I ever bought when I scrounged up enough money." Homura soon revealed before sighing. "I left it in my room though. I thought I'd be going back but...I guess Mirai can have it." She then added.
"Well, I can always buy you a new one." Makoto suggested.
Homura however shook her head. "It's ok, you don't need to." She replied. "Maybe I can sneak in and take it from my old room." She then muttered.
"You're willing to sneak into an Evil Shinobi academy and risk your life for a plushie?" Makoto questioned in disbelief.
"It could be great for training." Homura casually replied.
"Don't overestimate your skills, Homura-san." Makoto however warned. "I've been bested a few times myself. Always assume someone is better than you, and aim to beat them." She then revealed and explained.
"Well, it's not like the Metaverse has beaten that into my head a few times already." Homura mumbled with a frown. "Hey, where can I get that plate? It's not a limited edition or anything, is it?" She then asked and guessed.
"Hehehe...I came here for maturity training, but here we are talking about stuff for ten year olds." Homura got out in amusement.
"Well, there is a saying: You never really grow up. You just get older." Makoto soon stated.
"Like Miyabi?" Homura jokingly asked.
"Miyabi is a...unique case, but what I'm saying is that you can never really get rid of that kid inside." Makoto explained. "Accept that, and your outlook on the world will be a lot more positive as a result." She then added.
"Ah hah! I knew you'd be able to teach me something today." Homura declared in an over dramatic manner.
"Actually, you taught me that." Makoto admitted and corrected. "We may have more responsibilities, but that shouldn't stop us from enjoying what we like...even if it's meant for ten year olds." She then stated with a giggle. "Now, come on. We may as well knock out that essay now rather than leave it for later." She soon instructed.
"Hai hai." Homura responded with a nod as the two got to work.
Even with this encounter, Homura felt as though her Maturity was improving as a result as they finished the rest of their summer homework.
(8/15, Evening)
(Shibuya, Shin Megami Apartment Complex)
Miyabi felt like she just reached her safe haven in the middle of a war zone as soon as she saw the door to her apartment.
Work wasn't all that hard, it was just...tiring with all the lessons. While she was still learning the ropes, she knew she really didn't want to make it as her only source of income.
Sure, the other girls there were nice to her and treated her like a girl too, which was a blessing to her, but even so...
"I really need to practice my penmanship...and my cutesy act..." Miyabi mumbled to herself with a blush as she rummaged through her pockets for her keys.
Once she found them, she pulled out her phone and checked the time.
7 PM. Plenty of time to soak in the bathtub, eat a decent dinner, and then sleep the night away...and probably until noon.
But then...she looked at the date itself...
It took a second, but she suddenly remembered today was her birthday. "That fast..." Miyabi sighed out as she rubbed her head.
Her birthdays, at least after her mother died, were usually small. It would usually just be Imu and herself eating cake, or if she was lucky, she would have a small and quiet feast with her father. They were never big affairs but that never really bothered her before. Eventually, they had become so busy that birthdays were now a distant memory. It was just another day, another year without her mother, another year she was alive.
So why did it bother her now?
BZZT! BZZT!
"Ah." Miyabi got out as she pulled out her phone. "Hello?" She soon asked.
"Miyabi, happy birthday!" A familiar voice that filled her with relief greeted.
"Imu." Miyabi realized as she sighed in a relaxed manner. "Hey, um...thank you. How are things back home?" She awkwardly responded and asked.
"Still screwed up. I really need to relax but there's still so much that needs doing." Imu responded.
"And...Murasaki?" Miyabi hesitantly asked.
"Still in her room like always." Imu sighed. "Dammit, I wanna help her but now she's locked her door with something. I can't get it open no matter how hard I try." She then confessed and revealed.
"Have you tried knocking it down?" Miyabi soon suggested. No way she was going to bring up that part of it was her friend's fault.
"Too expensive. And you know she's strong enough to root herself down." Imu instantly shot down. "How is Tokyo so far? Have you gotten something about the Phantom Thieves or the incidents?" She soon asked.
"No." Miyabi answered as she leaned against the railing. "There's something going on here that...I can't leave just yet. I need to see this through to the end. So...when are you heading to Tokyo?" She soon asked.
"I'm so sorry but my permission to travel to Tokyo has been postponed. If I could be there, I would." Imu got out in an apologetic tone.
"It's fine, Imu. Really." Miyabi assured. "Just talking to you is enough of a birthday gift." She then stated.
"I actually can't talk for long though." Imu informed. "I'm going on a mission to prove I am a shinobi once more. I won't be back for a while." She then revealed.
"Really? What are you doing?" Miyabi soon asked with a raised eyebrow out of curiosity.
"It's under wraps. I can't say anything about it right now." Imu responded.
"It must be important then. That's a good thing." Miyabi got out with a smirk before gaining a concerned expression. "...Please don't die out there, got that?" She then requested.
"I won't." Imu replied in reassurance.
"I see." Miyabi responded with a nod of acceptance. "Good luck." She then encouraged.
"Thank you. Don't worry though, I'll be there before the end of the year and we can make up for lost time." Imu responded with confidence.
"I hope. I'll call you later. Bye." Miyabi responded before hanging up as she then used her keys to unlock her apartment.
However, as Miyabi opened the door to enter her apartment...
POP! POP! POP!
Suddenly, the sound of party poppers were heard as confetti and streamers were seen.
"Eh!?" Miyabi got out in confusion before...
"Happy Birthday Miyabi-chan!" Asuka happily cheered.
The white haired woman in mention blinked in shock and even more confusion. Why was everyone in the Phantom Thieves here? And where the hell did they get that party hat for Morgana, that is so cute!
"Asuka, we were supposed to say it together." Akira pointed out in amusement.
"Ah! Sorry!" Asuka soon apologized.
"What the..." Miyabi breathed out as she realized something. "How did you get in my apartment?" She soon asked.
"Akira lockpick the door." Ann revealed in a sheepish manner.
"Hey, you didn't punch anyone in the throat like you said you would." Homura meanwhile remarked in amusement.
"I...I...I think I need a better lock on my door." Miyabi murmured, still a state of shock to do anything as the light gray haired girl dragged her in. "O-Oi!" She stammered in confusion.
"Were you surprised, Miyabi-san?" Yumi soon asked with a smile.
"Well, more like numbness and still processing." Miyabi confessed. "But...I thought I said I didn't need one." She then reminded, though still uneasy about it.
"Eh, we're bad listeners." Ryuji countered while waving it off. "When the Phantom Thieves wanna do somethin', we do it." He then added.
"Regardless of what people say." Yusuke added.
"Now uh...we kind of lit the candles early, so you may wanna blow them out now and make a wish." Morgana informed in a slightly sheepish tone.
Soon enough, a cake was brought out that was coated in white frosting with 21 candles on it with dark purple frosting writing that said 'Happy Birthday Miyabi' on it.
"A-A cake?" Miyabi stammered in even more shock.
"Curtosty of me and Sis." Homura declared in a proud tone.
"We uh...forgot to buy candles though so we had Ryuji-kun go and buy some." Asuka sheepishly added.
"Did you have to mention that, Sis?" Homura deadpanned.
"You...You didn't..." Miyabi mumbled out.
Drip! Drip! Drip!
"Miyabi-san, are you...crying?" Yumi suddenly gasped in concern and disbelief.
"N-No, just...the stupid candles are making my eyes water." The white haired woman sniffled as she began rubbing her reddening eyes. "J-Jeez, w-what's with me today?" She then quietly got out.
"I think there are too many candles..." Makoto noted. "How many did you put on there?" She then asked.
"I'm pretty sure I put 21 candles..." Ryuji muttered before he counted again.
"Why didn't you buy the number-shaped birthday candles?" Ann questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"They were out of those ones." The dyed blond answered.
"God, I feel like a kid again..." Miyabi muttered in disbelief. "This is usually all kids' stuff." She then mumbled.
"Hey, it's an excuse to party and enjoy ourselves. Who cares if it's for kids?" Ann countered with a smirk.
"Come on, you're a Phantom Thief. We take care of one another." Ryuji stated as he patted her back. "Now hurry up and blow the candles." He then added.
"R-Right..." Miyabi stammered once more with a nod before taking a deep breath.
"Don't forget to make a wish too." Akira then reminded.
"R-Right..." Miyabi mumbled as she looked at the flames on the candles once more, taking in a deep breath once more before...
Fwoooosh!
Gently blowing out the candles.
"So, what did you wish for?" Asuka had to ask.
"Hey, if you say it, then it doesn't come true." Ann however pointed out.
"Oh! Sorry!" Asuka apologized.
"It's fine. I didn't really wish for anything major anyways." Miyabi then admitted.
"Well, let's move onto presents." Akira soon decided.
This however immediately caused the wihte haired woman to perk up. "Presents!?" Miyabi surprisingly repeated in a more excited...and childish tone with starry eyes.
Ryuji meanwhile chuckled to the white haired woman. "Someone seems happy." He remarked.
That immediately caused the birthday girl to blush before coughing into her fist. Meanwhile, everyone got their presents out.
"Here Miyabi, I know it's not much, but it should help next time in the Metaverse." Akira informed with a smile while handing the woman a black box with a red ribbon around it.
"You better appreciate it, Serpent. We'll need you to fight better than your best." Morgana advised. "Now open it!" He then ordered.
"Okay..." Miyabi responded with a nod as she began unwrapping the present. "This is...what is it?" She soon asked as she pulled the item out. It looked like one of those vape sticks she's been hearing about.
"Kuzunoha Tubes." Akira revealed. "We noticed how much using your Persona wears on your body, so we got you these. They should mitigate the cost of your attacks." He then explained.
"That's...actually useful." Miaybi admitted in an impressed tone. "Thanks Akira." She then got out.
"Ahem." Morgana coughed.
"And you too, Morgana." Miyabi soon stated as she petted the little guy. "Sorry, I kinda forget you exist sometimes." She awkwardly confessed.
"Erk!" The not cat suddenly choked. "I-It's okay! That just means I'm stealthy!" Morgana soon responded.
"Okay..." The white haired woman got out with a raised eyebrow before turning to the two roommates, who were awkwardly standing around with empty hands. "I guess Asuka and Homura's presents are throwing the party?" Miyabi assumed.
"Sorry, we didn't exactly have the time to find one..." Asuka replied. "But we're gonna get you something later! This I swear!" She then declared.
"Asuka, it's fine." Miyabi however assured with a frown. "You don't have to go so far." She then mumbled.
"Hehe, Sis got my stubbornness." Homura giggled out with a smirk. "But we'll treat you to lunch tomorrow. It'll be on us." She then informed.
"Uh, let me choose the restaurant, okay?" Miyabi soon requested, shifting her eyes.
"Of course." Homura responded with a nod. "With the amount of cooking we had to do today, it'd be nice for someone else to do it for us." She then added.
"I bet it won't be as good as your cooking though." Asuka meanwhile quipped.
"Hey, there's always those places with the grill." Ann pointed out. "I bet there's one somewhere in Shibuya." She then added.
"Ooh, nice suggestion." Homura got out with a grin.
"Don't get distracted here. Let's get through the presents first." Morgana reminded.
"Alright, I guess it's my turn." Ryuji got out before handing the woman a book. "Here you go, I hope you enjoy it."
"You got me a self help book?" Miaybi asked with a raised eyebrow. "He didn't even wrap it or put a bow on it." She then thought.
"My mom told me you'd like it." Ryuji sheepishly explained while rubbing the back of his head.
"101 Ways to Better Yourself by K.L. Toweling." Miyabi read out. "I...don't know what to say. But thanks, I'll definitely read it." She soon replied with a nod.
"Oh thank god." Ryuji silently breathed out in relief.
"Hey, it's the thought that counts." Akira assured as he patted the dyed blond on the back.
"Here you go Miyabi!" Ann happily informed as she handed the woman a thin pink wrapped box.
"I'm gonna guess this is clothes..." Miyabi muttered as she almost started to open it.
"Hold up, don't open it just yet." Ann suddenly stated.
"Eh?" Miaybi got out in confusion.
"My gift to you is more...personal, so don't show it while the guys are around." Ann vaguely stated and suggested with a wink.
"...It's not a fetish outfit, is it?" Miyabi suddenly deadpanned.
"W-What? No it isn't!" Ann exclaimed.
"Then why can't I just see it now? If it's just a dress, I don't think it'll cause the guys to turn into cavemen." Miyabi soon stated. "So, can I wear it in public or not?" She then asked in a serious tone.
"Just...trust me, ok?" Ann soon requested.
"Alright..." Miyabi sighed as she put the present down. She really hoped she didn't have to burn it.
However at that moment...
THUD!
"I believe it is my turn now." Yusuke soon informed...as he stood besides an obvious painting that was taller than him, covered in a paint-stained blanket.
"Wait, that's yours!?" Miyabi exclaimed with widened eyes. "It's the biggest one here! I thought you were broke most of the time!" She then added.
"This was a project made with supplies I already had." Yusuke assured, not noticing Yumi rolling her eyes. "Behold! My latest masterpiece!" He then dramatically declared before tearing off the cloth.
It seemed to depict a dark angel descending from the heavens with a gray cloudy background, with one wing as dark as deep space while the other was as white as pure and clean snow. The most striking thing about painting was the short, pure white locks of the angel.
"...H-How did you paint this?" Miyabi breathed out in awe.
"I have been on quite the painting spree lately, having been inspired by both my friends and life." Yusuke informed. "So I give you, from the bottom of my heart, Paradise of the Abyss." He then stated and revealed.
"It's...beautiful." Miyabi soon admitted in shock. "I need to hang this up somewhere! Erm..." She then declared as she looked for an open space. "Crap, I don't even have nails." She soon grumbled.
"We'll get you some after the party." Akira replied. "Looks like Yumi's eager to give you her gift now." He then noticed while looking at the eager light gray haired girl.
"R-Really? You got me something too?" Miyabi asked in a surprised manner.
"Why are you so surprised?" Yumi however asked with a head tilt.
"I mean...the whole Good vs Evil issue..." Miyabi awkwardly reminded.
"Ugh, are you guys gonna bring that up all the time?" Ryuji groaned as he rolled his eyes. "Good isn't good, evil isn't evil. Everyone, get it through their skulls and work together already. I don't give a shit as long they ain't killing us anyways." He then declared and stated.
"Language." Yumi sighed out.
"Dude, just give up." Ryuji muttered.
"Ahem." Yumi coughed out to get their attention as she offered a light blue wrapped box. "Well, here is your present, Miyabi-san. I hope you enjoy it." She then stated.
In response, the white haired woman took the present and unwrapped it, revealing a small box as she then opened the lid. "...Hanafuda cards?" Miyabi got out with a raised eyebrow.
"Beautiful artwork, is it not?" Yumi soon asked.
Staring at the cutesy artwork with bunnies and kitties splattered all over it, Miyabi...blinked. "...Well, I do like how it looks." She had to confess.
"Right?" Yumi replied with a pleased smile on her face.
Asuka meanwhile gained a gleam in her eyes. "Miyabi likes, noted." She thought to herself.
Miyabi meanwhile felt a shiver down her spine.
"I guess I'm up now." The advisor spoke up as she handed the white haired woman her royal blue wrapped present. "I've never had to get a present for someone before so...I just got something I hope you'd like." Makoto awkwardly confessed as the woman opened the gift.
"Wrist Weights." Miyabi stated as she got a feel for them. "These are about...20 to 25 pounds each." She assumed.
"I heard you were training hard so this was the best thing I could think of for the time being." Makoto explained.
"Well, I do need the training equipment." Miyabi revealed with a smirk. "Thank you. And I look forward to seeing you fight Akira in the near future." She then added.
"You're welcome." Makoto responded before blinking. "...Wait, what?" She soon asked.
Meanwhile, everyone else cringed.
"I think that's all the presents." Asuka got out. "So, what do you think, Miyabi-chan?" She soon asked.
"I...I really don't know what to say..." Miyabi had to confess.
"You don't have to say anything. That smile on your face is everything we wanted." Akira responded.
"But I...I tried to kill you guys..." Miyabi muttered.
"That is water under the bridge at this point." Makoto requested. "And, to be frank, there are people who have done worse to us. You're the only one who actually decided to help afterwards." She then revealed.
"No one should be this forgiving." Miyabi however quietly got out.
"Are you unable to comprehend kindness, Miyabi?" Yusuke however asked.
"I do but...All this for me?" Miyabi responded and questioned. "I've only known you guys for only a couple of weeks, maybe a month at best." She then reminded.
"So?" Asuka simply responded.
"So?" Miyabi repeated in disbelief before her confusion became anger. "Is this just a pity party or something? Because you feel sorry for me?" She then accused.
"Nope, I just wanted to make sure you had a good birthday." Asuka replied and explained with a smile.
"Asuka, I told you I didn't care about my birthday." Miyabi sighed out. "You didn't have to throw this. This feels like you're trying to make yourself feel better more than anything else." She then added.
"Miyabi!" Homura got out.
"Settle down." Asuka interrupted. "Miyabi-chan, I'm being honest. I won't stop you from leaving or kicking us out, but I just want you to know that you aren't alone anymore, that you don't have to be strong to survive. We're all in this together now, until the day we die." She then reminded.
"Not everyone deserves kindness." Miyabi soon muttered.
"Well I think you do." Asuka however stated in a no nonsense tone.
"...Fuck it. Turn on some music." Miyabi finally relented. "I should go get some sake, loosen me up a little." She then muttered to herself.
"You are not getting drunk." Yumi deadpanned.
"I'm 21! You can't tell me what to do!" Miyabi declared.
"The rest of us are minors though." Yumi reminded.
"Who said you're drinking? The sake's all for me." Miyabi countered while smirking.
"Look, there is a non-zero chance that you'll embarrass yourself while drunk." Ann pointed out.
"You're exaggerating." Miyabi waved off.
"I dunno, the shinobi do tend to get into some ecchi anime shit..." Ryuji awkwardly pointed out with a blush.
"I...well, there isn't much evidence to refute that." Makoto soon admitted.
"Hey, we haven't had a perverted antic happen to us in two weeks now!" Asuka stated in a proud tone and hands on her hips, her shirt strain-
RIP!
"...That was just a coincidence." Asuka insisted while the tan skinned girl threw a blanket over her before rushing off to change.
"Well, in any case, no alcohol." Yumi concluded.
"Aaaaaw~" Miyabi whined in disappointment with a pout.
"Miyabi-san, please act like the adult here." Yusuke sighed. "At the very least, shall we begin the festivities officially now that we've done our part?" He soon suggested.
"You may. Just don't drop shit on the floor." Miyabi sighed out her request.
"Sweet! With that shit out of the way, let the night begin!" Ryuji declared while pumping a fist into the air.
With that, he started the music, kicking the party into full swing.
"Ooh! What song is that?" Asuka had to ask.
"Broken Boy by Tonspender." Ryuji answered. "Sounded nice, so I put it in the party playlist." He then got out.
"It's really good." Miyabi soon admitted with a nod of approval.
The not cat meanwhile looked around in an impressed manner. "Wow, for such a small party, things seem pretty lively." Morgana remarked, soon noticing the little groups everyone was in. "I wonder what everyone is talking about." He soon asked in a curious manner.
"Let's see." Akira got out as the not cat jumped onto his shoulder. He quickly scanned over the groups that were chatting with one another.
Makoto was with Yumi. Asuka, Homura and Ryuji seemed like they're having fun already. Akira then noticed Yusuke and Ann talking, which was a little surprising. Miyabi was alone, however, simply grabbing some soda and cake to eat.
"You're not mingling with the guests?" Akira got out as he approached the woman, grabbing a drink without breaking his stride.
"Nah, not yet." Miyabi responded before taking another bite. "Damn this cake is awesome. I could probably eat all of it by myself if I had less self-control." She then muttered.
"You uh...got some frosting on your cheek." Akira awkwardly informed.
Miyabi in turn blinked at this as she used her finger to wipe it off and ate it. "Ah. Thanks." She replied.
"And here I thought shinobi had to have a strict diet." Akira joked out.
"We do." Miyabi replied, looking a little annoyed. "But life isn't life if you can't indulge in simple pleasures." She then added.
"So you plan to enjoy it?" Morgana guessed.
"I always wanted to enjoy life, but I thought I had to put it off. The only pleasures I was willing to partake in are baths and oyako donburi." Miyabi confessed and revealed. "But I guess the lusts of life have drawn me in." She then added.
"So you do want to live." Akira concluded with a smile.
Miyabi nodded to that. "You guys convinced me." She responded.
"You're welcome." Akira replied with a smirk before looking out at the party. "You feel like talking to anyone else?"
"Maybe a little later. I'm not quite at the level of being a social butterfly yet." Miyabi responded. "...Now let me finish my cake." She then requested while eyeing her sweets.
"Alright. Just save some for us." Morgana got out. "Lady Asuka definitely made sure it was safe for cats to consume! N-Not like I am a cat, anyways." He then declared before correcting himself.
"Yeah, you go keep telling yourself that." Miyabi deadpanned.
Chuckling to this, Akira turned to talk to the two Student Council Presidents. "Hey." He soon greeted.
"Makoto, Lady Yumi." Morgana got out.
"Akira. Morgana." Makoto replied with a nod.
"Makoto-san and I have been talking about driving lessons and other mundane skills that may apply to the Metaverse." Yumi answered before taking a sip of her soda. "I hope Futaba-san wakes up soon. It's about time we head to Mementos." She then added in concern.
"When she wakes up, she wakes up." Akira sighed. "We only have a week left." He then muttered.
"I know Futaba wouldn't be the type of person to betray our trust, but it's starting to get to me how close the deadline is now." Makoto meanwhile stated and confessed.
"I know. We'd usually be able to relax after a change of heart." Morgana got out. "I hope Futaba will have enough time to do her hack. I mean, how many people are participating in this hack?" He then stated and asked.
"Who can say? But for now, let's enjoy the party." Akira advised before turning his gaze over to the artist and the model. It seemed Ryuji and the roommates had joined their group and were having quite the discussion. "So, what are you guys talking about?" Akira soon asked as he joined the large group.
"Ah, just some recent developments over the summer." Yusuke answered.
"Yeah." Ryuji got out as he rubbed the back of his head. "Shit, man, I kinda wanna meet the Madarame that old dude said he was." He then admitted.
"I do too." Yusuke replied with a nod. "However, he was too far gone by then. But...I find comfort knowing he did care about me once." He then revealed and concluded.
"Are you thinking about visiting him?" Yumi soon asked.
"No." Yusuke responded as he shook his head. "I would rather not face him ever again, not after everything." He then added. "But I finally found my peace...and thus I no longer needed Goemon." He soon revealed.
"Wait, what?" Homura got out, blinking.
"From now on, you shall see Kamu Susano-o by my side." Yusuke soon revealed.
"Y-You mean...Goemon evolved?" Yumi breathed out in amazement.
"Quite a bit ago now." Yusuke admitted. "I've been discussing with Ann about her own evolved Persona." He then revealed.
"Wait seriously!? Your Persona evolved too!?" Homura asked in disbelief.
"Congratulations!" Asuka cheered while a thought came to mind. "You think our Personas will also evolve one day?" She soon asked.
"Definitely." Akira assured with a nod.
"Why did Carmen evolve?" Homura meanwhile asked in a curious manner.
"Well...it was actually a few days after Shiho left." Ann began. "I asked Akira to come with me for another shoot." She soon revealed before continuing on to describe what had happened that day.
"Eh!? Mika was cheating all this time!?" Asuka exclaimed.
The ash blonde in response nodded. "Yep." Ann replied. "She only got a slap on the wrist thanks to her acting, but she won't be taking any more shortcuts. From here on out, it's a fair fight." She then revealed and declared.
"How ruthless." Makoto remarked in disapproval to this information. "I hope you win." She then added in an encouraging manner
"Heh, by next month's issue, you'll see. As well as for the runway show." Ann chuckled. "And now you can count on me and Hecate to burn anything that gets in our way." She then got out with a smirk.
"That's great, Lady Ann!" Morgana responded with a smile. "Heh, I bet I'm next." He then added with confidence.
"I wouldn't bet on it." Homura got out. "I think Wolverine is gaining a few more claws." She then joked.
"Man...I'd thought I'd have Captain Kidd forever, you know?" Ryuji admitted. "Kinda miss him sometimes...but I know I don't need him anymore. Seiten Taisei is my Persona now, no point it changin' him back." He then stated.
"Hehe, as relaxed as always Ryuji-kun." Asuka giggled out.
"Yeah. You almost sound wise." Morgana meanwhile remarked.
"Aw, just let me have this…" Ryuji groaned as everyone laughed.
The night went on, with games, jokes and some dancing, but eventually it had to end before the last train left for the night.
"Who knew you could dance, Ryuji?" Makoto giggled as most of the Phantom Thieves headed out the door.
"I didn't either!" Ryuji admitted. "Thought my leg would make it worse." He then added.
"Well, you'd never know until you try." Yusuke pointed out before noticing that his senior was still inside. "Yumi-senpai, are you helping clean up?" He soon asked.
"You could say that." Yumi replied with a nod.
"We're staying a little longer." Homura added. "We worked hard on making all this food, we might as well make sure it's all eaten." She then stated.
"Can we take some home then?" Ann soon requested.
"Sure. I know Yusuke would love to get free food." Homura replied.
"The cake is mine though!" Miyabi however declared in a possessive manner, guarding the half left of the cake.
"I'll package it up for everyone." Asuka got out. As soon as everyone blinked, she had a stack of tupperware containers in her arms. "Here you go." She happily declared.
"...Am I ever gonna get used to blinking and something happening?" Makoto deadpanned as she took one of the containers of food. "...It would be helpful if I could do that too..." She then muttered to herself.
"Nope." Akira answered before everyone got one. "Well, see you tomorrow."
"Take care everyone!" Miyabi replied with a wave.
Soon, everyone else left for the night. All that remained were the four shinobi girls.
"Man, that was so much fun!" Asuka declared.
"It was nice to catch up with everyone." Yumi admitted with a smile.
"Do we know how to throw a party or what?" Homura concluded.
However, suddenly, Miyabi embraced the Vice Leader in a tight but tender hug. "Thank you..." She muttered in a grateful and meek tone, tears openingly running down her face. "Thank you so much..." She mumbled out.
Asuka however smiled softly, not even phased by the action as she returned the hug and patted the other girl's back. "You deserve to be happy too." She simply responded.
The two other shinobis meanwhile just smiled at the display. "Looks like you really needed this." Homura meanwhile noted.
"Hai." Yumi replied in agreement with a nod of agreement.
"Now then, time for a sleepover!" Asuka soon declared while pumping a fist into the air.
"Wait, what?" Miyabi got out in confusion as she blinked upon hearing that as she ended the hug.
"Yeah, we're gonna stay the night here." Homura replied. "This day doesn't end until the sun rises." She then explained.
"And we will get to know each other even more." Yumi pointed out.
"I never agreed to this...but I wouldn't mind hanging out with you guys a little more." Miyabi sighed out and confessed.
"Great!" Asuka happily replied with a smile...before revealing a small duffle bag.
"...You planned that far ahead?" Miyabi soon asked as she then looked at the others, who also revealed they had small duffle bags.
"Asuka-san and Homura-san live right next door, they just called me to bring my own things." Yumi reminded. "I don't know why you brought your things though, you could just go to your apartment for anything you needed." She then reminded.
"Eh, why go through the trouble of going to our apartment to change when we can all do it together." Asuka sheepishly replied.
"Plus, we wanna relax, so going back and forth between our apartments is too much of a hassle." Homura then pointed out.
"Okay." Miyabi got out before sitting on the floor along with the rest of the girls. "So, what are we doing for fun?" She soon asked.
"Well you have a TV, maybe we can watch a movie." Asuka replied and suggested.
"Oh, we can see The Karate Kid!" Yumi responded in anticipation.
"Did anyone bring the DVD?" Homura soon asked.
"Hai." Yumi responded with a nod, going into her duffle bag before taking it out along with a thing of microwave popcorn. "It is always best to be prepared for any scenario." She then explained with a gleam in her eyes.
"Including movietime, apparently." Miyabi added in amusement.
"As expected of you Yumi-senpai." Homura meanwhile praised with a grin. "Come on, let's get change into our underwear." She then suggested as she began to take her clothes off.
"Oh! You can also try on Ann-chan's present now since the guys aren't here." Asuka soon pointed out as she got changed.
"Yes, I wonder what she got you." Yumi soon asked, also changing out of her clothes.
Shrugging to this, the white haired woman got the ash blonde's present and unwrapped the pink wrapping paper before opening the lid, blinking as a result. "...Holy shit, she actually got my three sizes right..." Miyabi breathed out in awe and disbelief at the sight of the underwear. "How did she do that?" She then muttered in confusion.
"She had me sneak in and measure them while you were asleep." Homura casually revealed.
"She did?" Asuka innocently asked while tilting her head.
"You did!?" Miyabi exclaimed, blushing scarlet in response.
"I...I'm sure that wasn't Ann-san's intention." Yumi awkwardly stated.
"It wasn't that hard by the way." Homura soon informed. "You're a pretty heavy sleeper, you know that?" She then revealed.
"...Do you guys do stuff like this usually?" Miyabi had to ask with a weirded out expression on her face.
"Only on special occasions." Asuka answered. "Go on, try it on." She then requested in anticipation.
"You answered that way too casually." Miyabi deadpanned before heading into her room to change.
"What?" This however confused the Vice Leader. "We buy dresses for each other all the time." She then reminded.
"That's not what she meant, Sis." Homur replied.
"Huh?" Asuka responded while tilting her head.
"I thought you were joking around, Asuka-san." Yumi admitted.
"Eh?" Asuka innocently got out in confusion. "Did I say something wrong?" She soon asked.
"No, just...a misunderstanding." Homura answered with a shrug.
"Um, let me change into this real quick." Miyabi got out as she went into her room. "You could've just asked me for my sizes, Ann..." She then grumbled while stripping herself down as she then looked at the brand. "This is some high quality stuff..." She soon quietly noted as she got it on.
BOING!
Soon, the white haired woman came out of the room...and blushing scarlet once more with her arms behind her back. "W-Well?" Miyabi asked while wearing peach pink colored lingerie that had a floral embroidery design. "This is really comfortable..." She mentally admitted in a satisfied manner.
"I wish I could pull off pink." Homura grumbled.
"Wow, Ann-chan chose a good color for you, Miyabi-chan." Asuka confessed in an impressed tone.
"She really did." Yumi admitted in agreement with a nod.
"Should've expected as such from Ann." Homura meanwhile got out. "And it's sexy as hell." She then added.
"Th-Thanks." Miyabi stammered in embarrassment, not used to the praise being given to her. "I'll change to my pajamas later." She then decided.
"...You don't sleep in your underwear?" The three however innocently asked.
Miyabi however sweatdropped. "Are you sure you three aren't related?" She counter questioned.
"I'd wish." The three soon confessed before looking at one another in surprise. "Eh? Really?" They soon asked one another.
"Hm, Yumi-chan as a big sister too..." Asuka pondered as she tilted her head to think about it. "That would be fun! Just like with Homu-neechan!" She then admitted with a grin.
Yumi in response giggled at her friend's optimism as she then rubbed her head. "I would definitely adopt you...however you have a family. However, if Homura-san is willing..." She replied and began as she looked at the tan skinned girl with hope in her eyes.
"Erm, as much as I like you, Yumi-senpai, I'd rather only remain as Asuka's sister." Homura awkwardly confessed while rubbing the back of her head.
SHATTER!
"O-Oh..." Yumi got out while dropping her head in disappointment.
"I mean you have your own family to take care of." Homura reminded. "Plus, I'm pretty sure there's something against that and I do not want your grandfather to deal with the paperwork." She then added.
"That's fair. Still, there's nothing wrong with found families." Yumi responded with a sigh. "Blood is never a factor when calling someone a parent or sibling. It is the memories you make with them that determines that." She then stated.
"That's true." Asuka got out. "Although, what can I say? I still have both par...sorry." She then began before apologizing.
"It's okay." Homura responded as she rubbed her sister's back. "I'm actually kinda glad you exist. Give me hope we'll all have a happy ending one day." She then confessed.
"Hai, you are indeed like the sun of our group of friends." Yumi responded and praised in agreement.
"I...I don't do anything special." Asuka mumbled while poking her finger tips together. "I'm just being me." She then added.
"Why don't you all go and adopt each other while I wait for the inevitable orgy to interrupt my sleep schedule." Miyabi sarcastically suggested.
However, the others ignored her as they continued their conversation. "I mean, I already have my four adopted sisters to take care of when I eventually return to Gessen." Yumi eventually confessed.
"Your team?" Homura assumed.
"Hai." The info broker responded. "Oh, I may need to take care of my grandfather if he's still sick." Yumi then recalled in concern.
"He is?" Asuka asked in a worried manner.
The light gray haired girl in response nodded. "He was the last time my team called." Yumi got out with a worried frown. "Kurokage is getting quite old, so we should always be on the lookout for any signs of sickness." She then revealed and explained.
The white haired however perked up to hearing the name. "Wait, Kurokage!? The Evil Shinobi Killer!?" Miyabi exclaimed in shock with a pale face before looking around in a panic. "H-He's not here, is he!?" She then questioned in a paranoid tone.
"Who?" Asuka got out with a raised eyebrow.
"He's a well-known Renegade Shinobi amongst Evil Shinobi." Miyabi explained.
"Wait, what?" Asuka got out in a dumbfounded tone. "I wonder if Jii-chan knows him..." She then muttered to herself.
"Ah, so you know about him." Yumi responded in a serious tone.
"First time I've heard of him." Homura spoke up.
"You being the exception, Homura." Miyabi sighed out. "Can we start the movie now?" She then asked.
"Yep! Let's start!" Asuka declared as she grabbed the remote and pressed play before cuddling up to one another.
"...This really is nice..." Miyabi mentally confessed to herself in a relaxed manner. "Best birthday ever..." She then added in her head, cuddling up to the other girls.
(Fast Forward)
"Is that all?" Sae finally asked, feeling her brain reboot after what seemed like hours of inactivity.
Akira hummed and hawed before shaking his head. "No." He soon responded.
"Then what did a birthday party have to do with Medjed?" Sae questioned as she narrowed her eyes.
"I was getting every detail out as fast as possible." Akira replied.
"I want important details, not every detail." Sae corrected.
"But you're enjoying these stories, are you not?" Akira assumed with a knowing smile.
"..." Sae however gave a blunt deadpan expression in response.
"...I'll take that as a yes." The Leader concluded.
"Just. Tell me. What happened." Sae groaned out, mentally telling herself not to strangle the boy. "How did you take down Medjed?" She soon questioned.
"Well...it actually started the day before...after five more days of extremely important events..." Akira began.
Sae simply glared at him.
"...Or, you know, I can just tell you." Akira relented in disappointment and a pout as he went on to detail the fall of Medjed.
(Rewind)
Save Game…Quit!
Asuka/Yin's Social Stats:
Leadership- Dependable (Level 3) → Mastermind (Level 4)
Knowledge- Expert (Level 3) → Professor (Level 4)
Proficiency- Skilled (Level 3) → Masterful (Level 4)
Diligence- Thorough (Level 4)
Courage- Daring (Level 4)
Homura/Yang's Development Stats:
Maturity- Managed (Level 3) → Adult (Level 4)
Knowledge- Expert (Level 3) → Professor (Level 4)
Femininity- Natural (Level 4)
Elegance- Disciplined (Level 3) → Gentlewoman (Level 4)
Understanding- Motherly (Level 4)
Whew! Done! Next chapter is the fall of Medjed and Futaba's recovery! As for the Confidants, we're doing them in the Evening during Futaba's social training sessions and then finish them off in between the end of summer and the Hawaii trip.
UknownHero signing off, my friends! And stay safe everyone, no matter what side you're on.